Navigating the Patchwork of Laws Regarding Mandatory Paid Sick Leave and Other Paid Leave: Considerations for Multistate Employers

An increasing number of state and local laws require employers to provide employees with mandatory paid sick and safe leave – or even paid leave “for any reason.” In some locations, states have passed laws that entitle eligible employees to certain paid leave benefits (often through a state agency) when the employee is absent for qualifying family and medical leave reasons. These laws present challenging questions for multistate employers, as they include unique – and sometimes inconsistent – eligibility, accrual, carryover, use, notice, and other requirements. During this 60-minute webinar, Michael Best employment attorneys Leigh Jeter and Michael Sokolowski will discuss practical strategies for creating policies that comply with these laws, how to determine whether separate policies are needed for different locations, how the patchwork of laws may interact with each other or employer-provided benefits, and the pros and cons of offering flexible or “unlimited” time off to certain groups of employees.

SPEAKERS

Leigh Jeter – Michael Best

Leigh has represented private and public sector employers in labor and employment matters for more than 25 years. Her litigation experience includes successfully advocating for clients in state and federal courts and administrative agencies across the country in harassment, discrimination, disability, and leave-related disputes, grievance arbitrations, unfair labor practices charges, and various administrative agency matters.

Leigh also has extensive experience investigating and handling matters filed with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, and other federal and state agencies. She has significant experience conducting neutral workplace investigations on behalf of employers in a wide range of industries. In addition, she has conducted investigations into allegations of workplace misconduct, including those alleging discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to accommodate, performance or misconduct issues, wage and hour violations, embezzlement, fraud, assault and battery, collective bargaining agreement violations, and ethics and compliance violations. Through the course of her career, Leigh has honed innovative and effective strategies for managing investigations and achieving clients’ objectives.

Michael Sokolowski – Michael Best

Michael is a trusted advisor to businesses, not-for-profits, and management in some of the most challenging labor and employment issues facing clients. Clients appreciate the strategic vision he brings to his work in state and federal courts across the country. Michael’s counseling work focuses on identifying practical, business-focused solutions for clients. For instance, Michael has:

• Represented a national commercial refrigeration company in defeating class certification in California on claims for minimum wage, rest break, and additional state Labor Code violations.
• Obtained a temporary restraining order for a large, multi-state health care company in a non-compete lawsuit following the client’s multi-million dollar acquisition of the defendant’s former employer.
• Argued and won a motion to dismiss an entire lawsuit against a health care company alleging breach of contract.
• Represented a higher education client in dismissing claims against it and defeating the plaintiff’s motion for a preliminary injunction in a highly-publicized lawsuit.
• Won summary judgment for a multinational medical device and health care company in California federal court, in a case asserting claims under FEHA and CFRA.
• Assisted a non-profit client with a sensitive workplace investigation.
• Counseled numerous clients across industries on large reductions-in-force and compliance with federal and state WARN laws.
• Successfully negotiated a favorable settlement for a manufacturing client in a federal employment discrimination case.
• Represented a publisher in connection with its involvement in the U.S. Department of Justice’s lawsuit to block the highly-publicized planned merger between Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster.

Michael currently holds an elected position on the board of directors for LACBAC, Chicago’s LGBTQ+ bar association. Previously he was Vice President on the board of directors for the University of Michigan Club of Chicago.