On May 19, 2025, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed House File 248, which requires employers to treat adoptive parents the same as biological parents under certain circumstances. Specifically, if an employee adopts a child up to six years of age, an employer must treat the employee “in the same manner as an employee who

Catherine A. Cano
Catherine A. Cano is a principal in the Omaha, Nebraska, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Catherine represents management in all areas of labor and employment law.
Catherine helps clients navigate obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and state disability and leave laws. She also counsels clients on workplace drug and alcohol issues, including developing substance abuse policies. Catherine has defended more than 100 charges of discrimination filed with federal, state and local administrative agencies, and regularly appears before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Iowa Civil Rights Commission and Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission. Catherine represents in employers in federal and state court proceedings and has successfully defended multiple employment arbitrations.
Catherine's practice also includes assisting clients with union organization campaigns, collective bargaining, grievance arbitrations, and unfair labor practice charges. Catherine also has experience defending employers against whistleblower claims filed with the Occupational Health and Safety Administration.
Nebraska’s New Sick Leave Law Explained
On June 4, 2025, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen signed LB415, which amends the Nebraska Healthy Workplaces and Families Act (“HWFA”). Initially passed via ballot initiative in November 2024, the HWFA mandates paid sick leave for most employers and employees in the state—40 hours per year for employers with between 11 and 19 employees, and 56…
Nebraska Paid Sick Time Law: Requirements Employers Need to Know
Nebraska voters overwhelmingly approved Initiative 436, which adopts the Nebraska Healthy Families and Workplaces Act. The Act requires private employers to provide paid sick time to all employees regardless of the size of the employer beginning on Oct. 1, 2025.
Who is Eligible for Paid Sick Time?
The new law applies to all employees…
Special Report: PWFA Final Regulations
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released the text of the final regulations and interpretative guidance implementing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) on April 15, 2024. They were formally published in the April 19, 2024, Federal Register and will be effective 60 days later.
The EEOC received more than 100,000 public comments, including comments…
EEOC Issues Final Regulations to Implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued final regulations and Interpretative Guidance to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). The PWFA went into effect on June 27, 2023. The PWFA requires that employers with at least 15 employees provide reasonable accommodations, absent undue hardship, to qualified employees and applicants with known limitations related…
EEOC’s Proposed Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Regulations: Oh Mama!
On August 11, 2023, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) formally published proposed regulations to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). In a matter of just under 9 months, since the law was enacted at the end of 2022, the EEOC crafted 275+ pages worth of regulations, preamble and interpretive guidance to…
EEOC Issues Proposed Regulations to Implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued proposed regulations (NPRM) to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). The PWFA requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to a qualified employee’s or applicant’s known limitation related to, affected by, or arising out of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless the accommodation will cause an…
OH Baby! Practical Advice for Complying with the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act
The new year brings new laws for employers. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (PUMP For Nursing Mothers Act) were adopted when President Joe Biden signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 on Dec. 29, 2022. Read our full article for practical guidance for employers.
Sixth Circuit Dissolves Stay of OSHA COVID-19 Vaccine ETS
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has lifted the Fifth Circuit’s stay of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on COVID-19 vaccination and testing for employers with at least 100 employees. In re: MCP No. 165, Occupational Safety & Health Admin. Rule on COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing, …
Is COVID-19 a Disability? EEOC Provides Updated Guidance
On December 14, 2021, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) added a new section, COVID-19 and the Definition of “Disability” Under the ADA/Rehabilitation Act, to its COVID-19 guidance. The updated guidance describes how the ADA’s three-part definition of disability (actual disability, record of disability or being regarded as an individual with a disability)…