New England Biz Law Update

Fraud thrives when employees believe no one is watching. Strong internal controls demonstrate that management is reviewing transactions, thus reducing opportunities for misconduct.

At the starry-eyed beginning of any construction project, future litigation is the last thing on anyone’s mind. But parties need not let optimism get in the way of including forward-thinking contractual terms.

Underperformance can drain team productivity, lower morale, and signal to other employees that mediocrity is acceptable. It can also jeopardize business outcomes and drive away high-performing employees. The key for employers is knowing when to act and how to do so without inviting legal trouble.

A new bill proposed in Congress, the American Franchisee Association Act, is gaining attention as a possible game-changer for franchise labor rights.

A recent ruling from the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals may signal expanded exposure for employers under the Americans with Disabilities Act when it comes to medical leave requests.

A recent amendment to a Virginia statute potentially widens employers’ exposure to personal injury and wrongful death liability.

China’s 996 model — 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week — was sold as a path to speed, discipline, and dominance. In reality, it became a case study in how overwork corrodes the very foundation of business success.

A Los Angeles judge has given final approval to a class‑action settlement resolving claims that women in middle management roles at Disney were paid less than male peers, passed over for promotions, and assigned extra work without equivalent compensation under California’s Equal Pay Act.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed suit against an auto parts manufacturer, asserting that it violated federal law when it refused to allow an older, female worker with a disability to re-enter its apprenticeship program.

Mandatory arbitration clauses are increasingly common in construction contracts. Arbitration, sometimes referred to as “trial-light,” is a judicial process where an arbitrator (usually a lawyer or a former judge) receives evidence, hears from witnesses, and makes a binding decision resolving the dispute.