Nemeth Bonnette Brouwer Employment Blog

Summer Vibes – Summer Hours? Tips for employers on setting a summer schedule

Deborah Brouwer — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 09:00:01 -0400

Is your team in full summer vibe mode? Is it positively or negatively impacting productivity at work? For some employers, the adoption of a summer hours schedule is an antidote to the more laid-back atmosphere that can affect all of us in the summer. Whatever model your company might turn to as temperatures outside rise, it’s best to clearly set out the rules and expectations….

MIOSHA Departs with its COVID-19 Emergency Rules for Non-Healthcare Workplaces

Deborah Brouwer — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 09:00:02 -0400

Today, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) released updated COVID-19 Emergency Rules that effectively eliminated the requirement for most employers to implement entrance screening, mask mandates, and social distancing requirements in the workplace. The new rules contain two key provisions:

MIOSHA Relaxes Its Emergency Rules For Office Work

Wed, 26 May 2021 09:00:03 -0400

Yesterday, following CDC recommendations and guidance from the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) revised its COVID-19 Emergency Rules. The rules will remain in effect until October 14, 2021.

New COVID Relief Bill Extends FFCRA On Voluntary Basis Only

Deborah Brouwer — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 09:00:04 -0500

As of this afternoon, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 has passed both houses of the U.S. Congress and now moves to President Biden’s desk. Among several economic and healthcare related appropriations, the Act addresses employee leave related to COVID-19. Under the Act, the leave provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) are extended on a voluntary basis through September 30, 2021.

The EEOC Offers Guidance on How to Accommodate Religious Beliefs in the Workplace and When Religion-Based Employers May Be Exempt from Title VII

Deborah Brouwer — Wed, 17 Feb 2021 09:00:05 -0500

Last month, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) updated its Compliance Manual on Religious Discrimination, which addresses Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964’s prohibition against religious discrimination in the workplace.

Patricia Nemeth - Excellence in Defense Award 2020

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 09:00:06 -0500

All of us at Nemeth Law are very excited to announce that our founder, Patricia Nemeth, was awarded a 2020 Michigan Defense Trial Counsel Excellence in Defense award. This quick video from our colleague Deborah Brouwer explains why Pat was selected for the prestigious award.

If you’d like to congratulate Pat in person, please plan to attend the event on Thursday, March 19 at the Gem Theatre in Detroit. Ticket information is available here

College Athletes are in the Spotlight for Select Compensation. Is an Employee Designation Next?

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 09:00:07 -0500

Last week the NCAA announced a rule change that will allow student athletes to financially benefit from the use of their name, image and likeness. This step is reflective of a trend toward improving support for student-athletes that is several years in the making. With high profile student athletes having great revenue-generating potential, collegiate athletics might continue to look more and more like professional sports.

Sixth Circuit Nixes Shortened Limitations Periods for Title VII Discrimination Claims, Even Where The Employee Agrees

Deborah Brouwer — Fri, 04 Oct 2019 09:00:08 -0400

In a departure from historical precedent, where courts upheld agreements requiring employees to bring claims against their employers more quickly than otherwise required by law, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals (which covers Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee) has now prohibited such shortened limitation periods in discrimination lawsuits brought under the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 (also referred to as Title VII).

Estate of Employee Stabbed at Work Could Not Sue Employer in Court

Patricia Nemeth — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 09:00:09 -0400

On the morning of September 20, 2012, Keith Readus was working at an automobile assembly plant when co-worker Jeffrey Hunt stabbed him to death. Hunt fled the scene and later committed suicide. Readus’s son, Keith, then sued his father’s former employer for negligently hiring/re-hiring Hunt. He alleged the employer knew about Hunt’s history of violent conduct, including “threats of physical harm against coworkers, carrying a weapon in the workplace, and being arrested and convicted after physically assaulting another individual in 1997.” Estate of Readus by Gardner v. Chrysler Grp., LLC, No. 338273, 2019 WL 637281, at *1 (Mich. Ct. App. Feb. 14, 2019).

Are Sexual Assault Claims Subject to Mandatory Arbitration?

Patricia Nemeth — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 09:00:10 -0400

The Michigan Court of Appeals recently weighed in on litigation initiated by the Feiger law firm on behalf of two women against the Morse law firm and Michael Morse as an individual. See Lichon v Michael Morse/Michael J. Morse, P.C. and Smits v. Michael Morse/Michael J. Morse, P.C. Two lower court judges (one from Wayne County and one from Oakland County) had ruled the women were required to arbitrate their sexual assault claims against Michael Morse, the individual. The Michigan Court of Appeals held otherwise in a 2-1 decision