April 25, 2023

President Biden Signs Sweeping Executive Order For Care

The Biden administration has just announced a comprehensive and far-reaching executive order intended to improve care for all Americans. The order comprises a total of 50 directives aimed at nearly every cabinet-level federal agency, including the Departments of Defense and Education, Veterans Affairs, and the Office of Personnel Management.

The order seeks to improve working conditions and wages for myriad care providers, such as home care workers and early childhood educators as well as promote affordability and accessibility of care for all working Americans. This is especially welcome news for home care providers, who experience little job security, outright wage theft, and poor working conditions. It also has the potential to alleviate childcare pressures which have only increased since the outset of the pandemic.

Another facet of this order, which has significant ramifications for our practice and area of expertise is the directive aimed at the Department of Labor, which is being tasked with creating a sample contract for home care providers. This contract will enumerate both parties’ rights and responsibilities, allowing them to understand and more effectively comply with the law.

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The Berke-Weiss Law Weekly Roundup: While the Outlook Darkens, We Celebrate Some Small Victories

July 31, 2020
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The clock has essentially wound down on extending assistance for the 30+ million Americans currently on the unemployment rolls. White House officials and Congressional Democrats remain miles apart, with the latter rejecting a temporary extension of the benefits. There are also huge question marks over issues we focus on, particularly child care and employment law, both of which were in the news this week and are the subject of several of the stories we feature

With the HEALS Act the Fight over Pandemic Lawsuits Takes Center Stage

July 30, 2020
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Earlier this week, Senate GOP leadership introduced their $1 trillion opening response to the $3 trillion Congressional HEROES Act, originally proposed in May. As we have noted, the signal demand coming from Mitch McConnell’s office is liability protection (the “L” in HEALS) for businesses and health care organizations. Translated, McConnell wants to prevent workers from suing employers if they contract coronavirus at work. And the GOP appears firm that without consensus on this issue, there will be no new stimulus.

The Week in FFCRA Cases Includes a Class Action Suit against the USDA

July 24, 2020
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Four cases came across the wire this week and we have chosen to highlight them all. One case is the first class action lawsuit filed under the FFCRA and concerns potentially millions of people seeking SNAP aid. The three other suits that were filed this week follow a familiar line for anyone who has been reading our updates. People are getting sick or have family members getting sick and are then denied their right to paid leave and are terminated.

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