Can Inclusion Of A Boilerplate Duty Of Loyalty Provision Invalidate Your Covenant Not To Compete?

The Early v. MiMedx Decision

On February 10, 2015, the Georgia Court of Appeals held in Early v. MiMedx Grp, Inc., that a provision in a consulting agreement requiring an employee to devote her full working time to the performance of her duties for the employer was not a loyalty clause but, instead, constituted an illegal restraint on trade. In and of itself, the decision in Early is interesting and will undoubtedly affect how employers draft their duty of loyalty provisions. Perhaps a less obvious consequence of this decision, however, is that by reading a loyalty clause as a restrictive covenant, the Court has now placed employers in jeopardy of having their otherwise valid, and properly tailored, restrictive covenants invalidated if they are contained in an agreement signed prior to May

NLRB Postpones Effective Date of “Employee Rights” Posting Requirement

The National Labor Relations Board announced on October 5, 2011, the decision to postpone until January 31, 2012 the effective date of its recently published rule requiring employers to post notices informing employees of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act.  The NLRB finalized its new notice-posting requirement in August and at that time announced that the rule would take effect on November 14, 2011.  However, federal lawsuits were filed challenging the rule and prompting many questions and uncertainty from employers across the nation.  To learn more about the rule, please click here to read the Alert published by the Labor & Employment Client Service Group on October 6, 2011.

The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) — The Benefits of a Computer Use Policy That Restricts Employee Access

Employers that provide employees unfettered access to company computer systems may

Social Media and the National Labor Relations Act:  A Trap for Unwary Employers

The use of social media has become one of the most rapidly-changing areas in employment law today.  What most employers do not realize is that the National Labor Relations Board has become very active in policing both the substance of social media policies and the actions of employers in addressing social media concerns.  Please click here to read an overview of NLRB activity in the area of employee use of social media published by the Labor & Employment and Internet & New Media Client Service Groups on September 23, 2011.

Check It Out and Check It Off:  2012 Group Health Plan Checklist

While the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended (“PPACA”), required significant design changes for group health plans in 2010 or 2011, some additional requirements must be implemented for 2012.  Please click here

Updated Claim Procedure Requirements for Non-Grandfathered Health Plans

The Internal Revenue Service, Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Labor have revised the interim final regulations governing internal claims and appeals and external reviews for non-grandfathered group health plans under the 2010 health reform law.  The have also revised the forms for adverse benefit determinations and updated the list of state consumer assistance programs.  Many of the changes ease the burden of plan administration.  To learn more, please click here to read the Alert published by the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Client Service Group on July 1, 2011. 

IRS Issues Guidance on Health Plan Excise Tax Returns, Code Section 162(m)

On June 24, 2011, the IRS finalized rules on automatic extensions for Form 8928 Excise Tax Returns for employer-sponsored health plans and also released guidance on performance-based compensation plans of public companies.  For highlights of the

The Implications for FCPA Enforcement of the SEC’s New Whistleblower Rules

The SEC’s recent adoption of rules to implement the whistleblower program mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act has particular significance for enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.  For a discussion of the overall SEC enforcement context for the new whistleblower rules, a summary of the rules,  and a discussion of the key issues for FCPA enforcement, including recommendations that companies should take now, please click here to read the Alert published by the Global Anti-Corruption Team of the Securities Litigation and Enforcement  and International Trade Groups on June 22, 2011.

Supreme Court De-Certifies Largest Employment Discrimination Class Action In History

In Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes, the Supreme Court reversed a lower court’s decision to certify a nationwide class pursuing employment discrimination claims against the nation’s largest employer.  A 5-4 majority of the Court concluded that the class

On May 11, 2011, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal signed House Bill 30 into law, ushering in a new era for non-competition agreements (non-competes), non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), and non-solicitation covenants under Georgia law.  Historically, Georgia courts have not been friendly to such agreements and have made enforceability unclear.  The new statute clarifies and strengthens the ability of parties to restrict conduct during and after employment or a deal.  Perhaps most importantly, the law expressly authorizes courts to cure or “blue pencil” such agreements signed on or after May 11, 2011.  Under the previous regime, one faulty provision generally invalidated an entire restrictive covenant in Georgia.  In addition, the new law makes clear that NDAs need not specify a time limit on a requirement to maintain information as confidential so long as the information otherwise remains confidential.

In Georgia, new consideration is not required to execute new non-competes, so employers are in a good position to strengthen their competitive protections

W-2 Reporting of Employer-Provided Health Care Costs

The 2010 health care reform legislation included an obligation for employers to inform employees of the cost of their health coverage.   The IRS has now issued Notice 2011-28, which provides interim guidance for employers on W-2 reporting  of the cost of coverage.  For more information, please click here to read the Alert regarding the Notice published by the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Client Service Group on April 5, 2011.

Form I-9:  Changes to Accepted Documentation

As of May 16, 2011, the documents employees present to employers for I-9 verification are subject to new regulations.  The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of the Department of Homeland Security has issued a final rule concerning the list of acceptable documentation.  To learn more about the changes in acceptable documentation, please click here to read the Alert published by the Labor & Employment Client Service Group on April

Department of Labor Extends Non-Enforcement Period for Certain Internal Claims and Appeals Requirements Applicable to Non-Grandfathered Plans Under the Affordable Care Act

On March 18, 2011, the Department of Labor issued Technical Release 2011-01 extending, with some modifications, the enforcement grace period established under DOL Technical Release 2010-02 until plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2012.  To learn more the extension of the enforcement grace period, please click here to read the Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Client Service Group’s Alert published March 21, 2011.

Reporting for Participants with Deferred Vested Benefits – IRS Replaces Schedule SSA

Plan administrators are required to report certain information regarding participants who separate from service with the right to a deferred vested retirement  benefit.  In Announcement 2011-21, the IRS designated Form 8955-SSA to be used to satisfy this reporting requirement, replacing Schedule SSA.  To learn more about the filing requirements for

CPSC Opens Business Registration for New Consumer Product Safety Information Database

The new Consumer Product Safety Information Database is now available online on a trial basis, and will launch officially in March at www.SaferProducts.gov.  The Database allows a broad range of people to file so-called “reports of harm” informing the CPSC about an incident or concern that the submitter believes is an indication a product is unsafe or potentially hazardous.  To read more the database, please click here to see the Alert published by the Retail Team on February 3, 2011.

IRS Reverses Course — Breast Pumps and Other Lactation Supplies are Now Deductible Medical Expenses Subject to Reimbursement under FSAs, HRAs and HSAs

In Announcement 2011-14, the Internal Revenue Service concluded that breast pumps and supplies that assist lactation are medical care under Section 213(d) of the Internal Revenue Code and can therefore be reimbursed under a health

IRS Issues Guidance Expanding and Modifying 409A Correction Program and New Reporting Requirements for Stock Transfers under ISOs and ESPPs

The IRS issued Notice 2010-80 (the “Notice”), which made favorable changes to the procedures for voluntary correction of failures to comply with Internal Revenue Code Section 409A (“Section 409A”) originally issued in Notice 2010-6. These changes should make the correction procedures more accessible and less burdensome.  For a summary of the changes, please click here to read the Executive Compensation Update published by the Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Client Service Group on December 7, 2010.

Virginia Federal Court Rules Health Reform “Individual Mandate” Unconstitutional

On December 13, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ruled that the individual mandate of the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act, as amended (“PPACA”), which requires individuals to purchase health insurance or pay a penalty, was unconstitutional. Virginia v. Sebelius,