The DC Insider - Employer Update Podcast

Join David, Nita, and Burt as they discuss the exemption requirements in the COVID federal vaccination mandates; particularly the challenges in addressing religious exemption requests.  The FS Team outlines the issues that exemptions raise for employers under federal and state laws and the challenges when employers are unable to accommodate requests for medical and religious exemptions.  Employers...

David Fortney is joined by guest David Cohen, from DCI Consulting, Inc., in a deep-dive discussion on the latest updates on enforcement results from the U.S. Department of Labor’s OFCCP focusing on Federal contractors’ compliance with their nondiscrimination and affirmative action obligations, and the Agency’s new initiatives.   The fiscal Year 2021 ended September 30, 2021, and the surprisingly l...

Join David, Nita, and Burt as they review President Biden’s Executive Orders imposing new vaccination requirements. The discussion focuses on federal contractors’ new obligations, as set out in the September 24th Guidance issued by the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force.  Included are details about the expansive coverage provisions, the timing and record-keeping requirements, the safety protocols...

To mark the Labor Day holiday, David, Burt, and Nita discuss the developing workplace laws, and review the 20th Century labor and employment laws and assess their effectiveness for the 21st Century workforce.  We focus on how workplace laws historically lag behind changes in work and society and review how the 20th Century laws, such as the laws relating to union organizing, wage and hour, and civ...

In this episode, the FortneyScott team updates the responses to the Delta variant, including the new Federal and employer vaccine mandates and delay of return to office plans; Congress’ efforts to pass far-reaching infrastructure bills; and, the latest from the EEOC, OFCCP, and other key federal agencies. Contact Fortney & Scott: Tweet us at @fortneyscott Follow us on LinkedIn Email us at info...

Join David, Nita, and Burt as they review President Biden’s new federal vaccination requirements and the latest developments in the legal battles surrounding vaccine mandates.  The discussion explores how the new requirements affect federal contractors working at federal sites as well as the many complications and challenges contractors face in responding to the new requirements. Such issues as th...

In the second episode of the two-part discussion between EEOC Commissioner Keith Sonderling and David Fortney from FortneyScott, Commissioner Sonderling discusses the latest developments in how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used to assist in companies’ employment decisions, challenges that AI can pose for compliance with the EEO laws, and the latest efforts by EEOC relating to AI. Includes...

This week, listen in on EEOC Commissioner Keith Sonderling’s discussion with David Fortney from FortneyScott in the first of an important and timely two-part podcast episode.  In this first episode, Commissioner Sonderling discusses the most recent developments at the EEOC, including how the Commission operates; litigation decision-making and votes by the Commissioners; how conciliation proceeds t...

Consuela Pinto from FortneyScott and Rick Wade, Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances and Outreach from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, discuss the Chamber’s Equality of Opportunity Initiative to develop real, sustainable solutions to close race-based opportunity gaps in six key areas: education, employment, entrepreneurship, criminal justice, health, and wealth.  The discussion explores how...

FortneyScott’s Consuela Pinto, Burt Fishman, and David Fortney discuss how employers are navigating the rapidly changing landscape of pay data disclosures, ranging from the government compelled disclosures in EEO-1 reports and whether those obligations will be reinstated, to voluntary disclosures by employers and the escalating number of FOIA requests DOL has received. Contact Fortney & Scott:...

In Episode 13, Nita discusses how Providence, the 3rd largest healthcare organization in the United States, dealt with the pandemic using its newly re-established DE&I program and how its pandemic experience impacted the organization’s thinking about work moving forward.   Joining Nita are special guests Denise Bowen, Providence’s VP HR Strategy and Solutions, and Brittany Fisher, Providence’s...

FortneyScott’s latest episode explores EEOC’s new latest COVID-19 Guidelines on vaccinations and their impact on return-to-work.  Employers may be surprised by EEOC’s take on vaccination status confidentiality. Contact Fortney & Scott: Tweet us at @fortneyscott Follow us on LinkedIn Email us at info@fortneyscott.com Thank you for listening!   https://www.fortneyscott.com/

In Episode 11, David and Nita sit down with FortneyScott colleague Leslie Silverman to discuss the EEOC hearing on COVID-19 and civil rights, the implications of the latest CDC guidance announcement regarding masks, and how that will affect employer reopening plans. Contact Fortney & Scott: Tweet us at @fortneyscott Follow us on LinkedIn Email us at info@fortneyscott.com Thank you for listenin...

In this 10th Podcast in the 10-part series on the Biden-Harris Administration’s first 100 days, the FortneyScott attorneys discuss President Biden’s nominees and the key developments, new policies and regulations being implemented by the key Federal agencies, including OSHA, Wage and Hour, OFCCP, EEOC, and the NLRB, and what changes employers will likely see in the future. Contact Fortney & Sc...

In this 9th episode, the FortneyScott attorneys discuss President Biden’s speech to Congress; the President’s American Rescue, Jobs and Family Plans; and the pending bills in Congress, including the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Equality Act. Contact Fortney & Scott: Tweet us at @fortneyscott Follow us on LinkedIn Email us at info@fortneyscott.com Thank you for listening!   https://www.fortney...

This 8th Podcast focuses on the response to the Chauvin verdict, the puzzling inactivity of the federal agencies on employment issues, and then takes a deep dive into the OFCCP’s Affirmative Action Verification process. Contact Fortney & Scott: Tweet us at @fortneyscott Follow us on LinkedIn Email us at info@fortneyscott.com Thank you for listening!   https://www.fortneyscott.com/

This 7th Podcast reviews the many issues facing employers as they struggle to re-open their businesses. Subjects ranging from the challenges of a “hybrid” workplace to rising COVID infections, vaccination mandates, and employees who either don’t want to be vaccinated or don’t want to return will be discussed.  Contact Fortney & Scott: Tweet us at @fortneyscott Follow us on LinkedIn Email us at...

This 6th Podcast provides a review of the major provisions of the American Jobs Plan, Pres. Biden’s proposal to re-make the country’s “infrastructure.”  The podcast will focus on the bill’s job-creating efforts, the union-abetting schemes, the controversy over what constitutes “infrastructure,” and how Senate rules on reconciliation affect the chances for passage. Contact Fortney & Scott: Twee...

This 5th Podcast provides a rundown of the key developments from the past week, focusing on Congress and the pending PRO Act and Equality Act, and the impact of the Senate’s filibuster rule on their passage in the Senate. Contact Fortney & Scott: Tweet us at @fortneyscott Follow us on LinkedIn Email us at info@fortneyscott.com Thank you for listening!   https://www.fortneyscott.com/

In the fourth episode, we discuss the latest on the confirmation of DOL Secretary Walsh and key nominations, and updates on the rollback of Trump-issued regulations and the issuance of new regulations governing the workplace.  Contact Fortney & Scott: Tweet us at @fortneyscott Follow us on LinkedIn Email us at info@fortneyscott.com Thank you for listening!   https://www.fortneyscott.com/

In our third podcast covering the first 100 days of the Biden Administration, we unpack the American Rescue Plan passed by Congress and signed by President Biden and what it means for employers. The President now has achieved a major campaign promise--to provide comprehensive COVID relief, including individual stimulus checks, expanded paid sick, and support for extended unemployment benefits, vac...

In our second podcast covering the first 100 days of the Biden Administration, we unpack what the American Rescue Plan passed by Congress and signed by President Biden means for employers, and provide updates on the Senate confirmations. Contact Fortney & Scott: Tweet us at @fortneyscott Follow us on LinkedIn Email us at info@fortneyscott.com Thank you for listening!   https://www.fortneyscott...

Debut episode introduces David Fortney, Burt Fishman, and Nita Beecher, who debrief employers on the first 45 days of the Biden Administration.  Click here to access the mentioned DC Insider Report - March 12, 2021 . Contact Fortney & Scott: Tweet us at @fortneyscott Follow us on LinkedIn Email us at info@fortneyscott.com Thank you for listening!   https://www.fortneyscott.com/