On September 9, 2021, the en banc Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals released its decision in the case of Hewitt v. Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc., in which it considered whether an employee paid a day rate satisfies the “salary basis” requirement for certain overtime exemptions from the federal...
This might sound a bit strange, but being a mom enhances my view on cybersecurity. Over the past 14 years, I have worked with engineering firms to bring digital solutions to critical infrastructure sectors to market, such as Energy, Oil and Gas, and Healthcare. The transition to digital solutions...
Who are today’s most “competitive” fuel retailers? The obvious answer is: the ones that get the most customers. What makes a customer choose them? That answer is less obvious.
Selling more gallons and c-store items in today’s market environment is only becoming more difficult. The typical U.S. fuel retailer has...
As remote working and online learning became the norm, the coronavirus pandemic exposed a growing gap in our nation’s digital divide, the gulf between those who have ready access to computers and the internet and those who do not.
Without access to computers or reliable Wi-Fi, students in low-income communities...
Now that many Americans are beginning to return to their offices after working from home during the pandemic, it’s important to acknowledge the public health crisis surrounding addiction and substance abuse.
Drug and alcohol misuse rose across the country during the pandemic, and now many are left dealing with the...
As a woman approaching the twilight years of my professional career, I have been reflecting on the evolution of the working environment for females over the course of my lifetime. It is certainly true that “we’ve come a long way, baby,” and the women of my generation owe a...
What is one without the other? Recently, we discussed certain provisions royalty owners should pay attention to with respect to their oil and gas leases and what they can do to protect their oil and gas leases in the event a producer or downstream purchaser files for bankruptcy. This...
With energy prices trending up and the U.S. economy on the rebound despite the COVID-19 pandemic, some oil and gas companies will move quickly to take advantage of this upswing in the business cycle. As business picks up, now is the time to take stock of lessons learned from...
Whether natural disasters, cybersecurity attacks or global pandemics, workplace disturbances occur frequently and when companies least expect them. Disaster preparedness and business continuity plans (BCPs) have never held more importance, especially with the events this past year has offered. A wide variety of hazards can occur in the workplace,...
Last month, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) provided welcome clarity to employers continuing to navigate COVID-19-related employment challenges. See U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, “What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws,” updated on May 28, 2021.
Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policies
One...
