Green Grass and High Tides: The Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act

On April 17, 2016, Governor Tom Wolf signed Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program into law, making it the 24th state with a comprehensive medical marijuana program. The new law – Act 16 or the “MMA” – will protect registered patients and their physicians from civil and criminal penalties and is in the process of creating a regulated system for growing, prescribing and selling medical marijuana.

The law was effective in April, but the Department of Health is in the process of issuing regulations to implement the Act.

Predictably, Pennsylvania employers now have another issue with which to wrestle in the workplace.

Click here to read the entire article.

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By Kevin L. Carr

 

Calling in Sick: Pittsburgh Sick Leave Law Delayed

UPDATE —- March 10, 2016 is the current targeted effective date for an ordinance passed by Pittsburgh’s City Council requiring most city businesses to provide sick leave to full-time and part-time employees.

Implementation of the legislation was postponed by 60 days under an agreement reached by the city and groups challenging the law in court.

Pittsburgh Member Peter R. Rich explains how the proposed law came about, exemptions included and pending legal challenges.

You can read Pete’s article by clicking here.

New Corporate Compensation & Benefits Attorney Joins Our Team

We are very pleased to announce that attorney William T. Cullen has joined the law firm’s Pittsburgh office as Counsel.

Cullen’s practice is in corporate law and benefits, with an emphasis on ERISA and executive compensation.

He joins the firm after serving most of his career with K & L Gates. He has worked with many Fortune 100 firms and is a graduate of Duquesne University’s law school, where he was managing editor of the Law Review.

“The addition of Bill adds significantly to our corporate practice and reflects our strategy of focusing on bringing top-notch professionals with large law firm experience to Spilman,” said Ron Schuler, Member in Charge of the Pittsburgh office.

To read more about Cullen or contact him directly, click here.

 

Spilman SuperVision Symposium Helps Businesses Prepare for What’s Next

Spilman recently hosted more than 70 business leaders from the Mid-Atlantic region for the law firm’s Pittsburgh SuperVision™ symposium, which focused on helping businesses prepare for what’s next in employment challenges.

Presentations discussed what’s next across the spectrum of HR hot topics such as:

• What’s Next with Arbitration Agreements: Controlling Employee Litigation and Related Costs
• What’s Next from the NLRB: Shaping the Way Employers Focus on Their Workforces
• What’s Next for Restrictive Covenants: Protecting Your Human Capital and Trade Secrets
• What’s Next For You? A Discussion of the Next Wave of Critical Employment Issues

The symposium concluded with a lively question-and-answer session with Spilman attorneys.

The popular SuperVision™ event series was launched eight years ago by Spilman’s labor and employment group, which has been recognized nationally for representation of management in employment disputes.

The symposia are complimentary and are offered in various locations throughout Spilman’s geographical footprint each year.

 

Dave Kern, Global Brass and Copper, provides insight on key employment issues

Spilman’s Larissa Dean and Jeff Patton address the crowd

Our clients and attorneys discuss upcoming issues regarding labor and employment

For more information, please visit our website.