The data breaches that Target, Michael’s, Nieman Marcus and other large companies have suffered recently have gained a great deal of attention in the media. These public and costly embarrassments serve as reminders that all businesses should have a comprehensive information security policy and should closely monitor their servers and third party data interfaces for...
By Alicia J. Samolis and Michael A. Gamboli Effective January 1, 2014, all Rhode Island employers must allow their employees four (4) weeks of time off per year under the Temporary Caregiver Insurance (“TCI”) Law. Like Temporary Disability Insurance (“TDI”), the program will be financed through employee payroll deductions and administered by the Department of Labor...
By Alicia J. Samolis and Michael A. Gamboli We alerted you a few weeks ago that while we were all excited about the prospect of bi-weekly pay, we were still waiting for the required application to appear on the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (“DLT”) website. It has!! The application must be filed with...
By Alicia J. Samolis and Michael A. Gamboli A few weeks ago we alerted you to the fact that although the somewhat infamous bi-weekly pay law was set to go into effect on January 1, 2014, neither the required application nor the governing regulations had been finalized by the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training...
By Alicia J. Samolis and Michael A. Gamboli With January 1, 2014 fast approaching, many Rhode Island employers excited about the prospect of moving to a bi-weekly payroll system are wondering how to make the switch. The new law requires the filing of a petition, a showing of good cause and approval from the Department of Labor...
A recent case from the First Circuit Court of Appeals, the federal court whose rulings cover Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and Puerto Rico, demonstrates how important it is for business owners to register their trademarks as early as possible, and the consequences of not doing so. The case involves a dispute between two...
By Alicia J. Samolis and Michael A. Gamboli By October 1, 2013, employers must notify their current employees, in writing, about their health insurance options under the new Health Exchanges in 2014. The notice requirement applies to all employers subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). FLSA generally applies to employers that employ one...
A 2013 ruling from the Rhode Island Superior Court illustrates the necessity of preserving potentially relevant information in the face of pending or threatened litigation, and the harsh consequences that can result from a party’s failure to comply with its preservation obligations. In Berrios v. Jevic Transportation, Inc., No. PC-2004-2390, 2013 WL 300889 (R.I. Super. Jan. 18,...
By Alicia J. Samolis and Michael A. Gamboli The Rhode Island Legislature finished a busy season on the labor law front, passing a number of new laws that await the Governor’s signature. Among the highlights: Bi-Weekly Pay (H 6065 SUB B) This Bill amends the current wage payment law and allows employers to pay employees...
By Eugene G. Bernardo II and Alexandra W. Pezzello Recently, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) broke new ground when it charged Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (the “City”) with securities fraud in connection with material misstatements and omissions regarding the City’s financial condition. This represents the first time that statements outside of securities disclosures were the...
