News & Announcements

Hawaii Supreme Court Addresses Defamation Claims and Duty of Care Owed by Investigators
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
In Nakamoto v. Kawauchi (May 8, 2018), the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled:
The exclusive remedy provision under Hawaii’s workers’ compensation law does not bar claims for defamation and false light, thus allowing

New Law Expands Amount of Time Employees with a DUI Can Drive Company Vehicles
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
What options do companies have when one of their drivers gets convicted for Driving under the Influence of Alcohol (“DUI”)? In some instances, the company may decide to terminate the employment of an individual

EEOC: Parental Leave Policies Must Offer Equal Benefits for Dads and Moms
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Paid parental leave policies have become increasingly popular and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has taken note. The EEOC’s recent $1.1 million settlement with Estée Lauder Companies

Millennials Are Most Likely to Stay Loyal to Jobs with Development Opportunities, Survey Shows
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
In today's rapidly growing and evolving economy, it's more acceptable than it was even a decade ago for employees to move quickly from job to job. However, a new study commissioned by Bridge found that nearly 90 percent of

Misrepresentation of “Service Animal” Becomes Unlawful in Hawaii, January 1, 2019
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
While places of public accommodations have long been prohibited from discriminating against individuals with a disability, a new law makes clear that required accommodations extend to individuals with a disability that use

Temporary Disability Insurance Law Amended, Effective July 10, 2018
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
On July 12, 2018, JoAnn A. Vidinhar, Administrator for the State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Disability Compensation Division, released a memo announcing amendments to Hawaii’s Temporary Disability

Obama-Era Persuader Rule Officially Dead
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
On July 18, 2018, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued final rules rescinding persuader regulations previously released in 2016, under the Obama Administration. The persuader rules govern when employers and those who

EEOC: $1 Million Settlement for Unlawful Leave and Attendance Policy
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
On July 17, 2018, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a $1 million settlement with Mueller Industries, Inc., settling a disability discrimination lawsuit based on its leave and attendance