With lockdowns going into effect all over the country again due to the surge in COVID cases, employers all over the country are trying to figure out what to do to prepare for "The December to Remember." Can you force employees to stay put? Can you penalize them for traveling over Thanksgiving or prevent them for traveling during Christmas? And how about work from anywhere … [More]
Arizona Minimum Wage Increase: Facts and Misconceptions
On January 1, 2021, the minimum wage for Arizona employees will increase to $12.15 per hour, up from $12.00 per hour in 2020. This increase is based on the passage in 2016 of the Fair Wages and Healthy Families Initiative, which provided for a gradual increase in the minimum wage each January, from $10.50 per hour on January 1, 2018, to $11.00 per hour on January 1, 2019, then … [More]
Are Overtime Rules Enforceable?
Seven months into 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic has changed nearly every aspect of life. Even mundane matters like working out has changed (you now need a gym reservation). Working at home, remote learning, social distancing and mask mandates are only the surface of what challenges face our personal and professional lives this year and beyond. This article offers some basic, … [More]
Subchapter V 11 Bankruptcy Saves Companies Significant Time and Money
COVID-19 shutdowns crippled many Arizona companies, with some going out of business permanently. Others are considering bankruptcy, but question whether they can afford the $40,000 to $75,000 that a Classic Chapter 11 often costs. Fortunately, they now have a better option that saves as much as 50% in legal fees. In August, Arizona confirmed its first Subchapter V Chapter … [More]
The Rise of and Rising Concerns about Business Chat
Many employers have a significant number of employees working from home, performing tasks and connecting with others in ways that were little used prior to March of this year. One popular tool is chat software. Chat software is gaining in popularity each day. Platforms are everywhere. There are two types of platforms discussed in this article. The first is within organizations, … [More]
Phoenix Attorney Authors First Book to Examine Laws Governing Psychedelic Substances
On the verge of a pop culture tipping point, Psychedelica Lex now serves as the preeminent legal manual for individuals and organizations with a vested or growing interest in psychedelics and entheogens. Authored by Gary Smith, a Phoenix-based attorney and a veteran cannabis attorney and general counsel to the nation's oldest non-Native American peyote church, … [More]
Bankruptcy in a Distressed Post-COVID-19 World
Bankruptcy is a forum and an arena for resolving distressed business situations in a post COVID-19 world. Bankruptcy is not a solution for every business, but it is one of several alternatives to consider. In a chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, a business can find the time and the breathing room to choose and implement the right solution to save the business and jobs, and … [More]
Pandemic Presents Learning Opportunities for Employers
In Charleston, S.C., a restaurant was sued by a former server who says he was fired after he left work to get tested for COVID-19. A large automaker was also recently sued for wrongful termination after firing an employee within hours of the employee’s complaint about safety concerns, even after the employee had been assured that he could stay home without penalty … [More]
