On March 3, 2022, President Joe Biden signed legislation that makes predispute arbitration agreements and class action waivers invalid and unenforceable to sexual assault and sexual harassment claims. On its face, the law is limited to those specific types of claims. However, legislative attempts to restrict arbitration rights persist at the federal, state, and local levels.
Some states have restricted medical care for employees such as restricting abortions and gender-affirming care. In this sample policy Glowforge Inc. pays for the travel or relocation to get the healthcare the company has promised its employees. The policy was issued on April 14, 2022.
In light of recent state-level trends, businesses have begun exploring avenues to assist employees in states with restrictive abortion laws with travel to nearby states to receive abortion services. In implementing these programs, employers should consider the various ERISA and tax code-related provisions that may impact design.
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his article was published by Seyfarth Shaw LLP on May 13, 2022.
In the wake of the US Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, employers with health plans that cover abortion services will have to determine whether or how to provide continued access to this relatively little-used benefit, especially in states that will automatically restrict abortion access now that the ruling has been issued, or that are expected to do so.
Potential contract clause for serving alcohol at a company event.
Health care providers that provide a full spectrum of women’s health care services, including abortion, will need to understand how the Dobbs decision impacts the care they can provide to patients. Absent a federal protection of a patient’s ability to obtain an abortion, providers operating in this space will need to understand the scope of State laws that apply to abortion services.
Read about the Implications for in-house counsel of the US Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization in a selection of resources.
Implications of US Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization for employers in the United States