- twelve weeks of paid parental
Teresa Burke Wright
Teresa Wright is a principal in the Washington, D.C. Region office of Jackson Lewis P.C.
She is a seasoned litigator, having represented employers ranging in size from eight to 18,000 employees in litigation, and administrative proceedings. She helps clients on a daily basis to comply with state and federal employment laws and navigate challenging workplace law issues. She provides practical business advice based on “best practices” and is a sought-after speaker and trainer on employment law topics.
Teresa was the litigation manager of the Washington, D.C. Region office of Jackson Lewis from 2005 until 2014. As the litigation manager, she served as the office’s local expert on litigation questions, monitored litigation trends, educated the D.C. office attorneys on developments in workplace litigation, and assigned and tracked litigation within the office, while managing her own caseload.
Teresa also is active in the firm’s Disability, Leave and Health Management practice group. In that capacity, Teresa acts as a regional and national expert on employee health and leave issues facing employers, including issues arising under the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, and similar state and local laws, such as the D.C. Sick and Safe Leave Act and Maryland Healthy Working Families Act.
Teresa counsels employers daily regarding such employment issues as employee discipline and termination; discrimination and harassment; preparation of employment contracts; drafting personnel policies and handbooks; and investigation of employee misconduct. She is an expert on issues arising under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act and similar state and local laws, and is part of her firm’s task force on independent contractor misclassification.
D.C. Employers Must Comply With Paid Family Leave Notice Requirement By February 1
The D.C. Department of Employment Services (DOES) has issued a new Paid Family Leave notice/poster. This notice must be posted in a “conspicuous place”, such as where the employer posts employment-related information, and must be provided to employees, on or before February 1, 2024.
The new notice, effective October, 2023, is identical to the…
Now Is Always a Good Time to Evaluate Your FMLA Processes
Based on our experience advising hundreds of employers and closely watching court rulings on cases around the country, we offer a few tips for complying with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Employers should follow their own policies with respect to FMLA leave and requests for time off. To avoid potential issues, employers should…
Amount of Paid Leave Dramatically Increased Under D.C. Universal Paid Leave Law
Due to a surplus in the District of Columbia’s Universal Paid Leave Fund, the number of weeks of paid leave available to D.C. workers under D.C.’s Universal Paid Leave Act will significantly increase on July 1, 2022.
Read more here.
D.C. Employees to Get Paid Leave for COVID-19 Vaccines Well into 2022
D.C.’s new “COVID Vaccination Leave Temporary Amendment Act of 2021” (Temporary Act) will extend employees’ entitlement to paid time off for both COVID-19 vaccination and recovery from any side effects well into 2022. Read more about about employer obligations here.
D.C. Mayor Signs Off on D.C. Employees Getting Paid Leave for COVID-19 Vaccines
On November 18, 2021, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser signed the “COVID Vaccination Leave Emergency Amendment Act of 2021” and it has now been enacted. Accordingly, the Emergency Act will remain in effect for not more than 90 days, or until February 16, 2022.
Read our full coverage here.
D.C. Council Unanimously Adopts Paid Leave for D.C. Employees Getting COVID-19 Vaccines
The D.C. Council has adopted legislation that “removes one of the biggest obstacles workers say prevents them from getting the COVID-19 vaccine” by ensuring paid time off for both vaccination and recovery from any side effects. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is expected to sign the “COVID Vaccination Leave Emergency Amendment Act of 2021”…
October Brings Changes to D.C. Universal Paid Leave Law and D.C. Family and Medical Leave Act
The District of Columbia has enacted emergency legislation expanding the District’s Universal Paid Leave Act (UPLA). The legislation takes effect on October 1, 2021, and lasts for no more than 90 days.
In addition, the D.C. Mayor signed legislation to make these changes permanent. That legislation is in its 30-day Congressional review period. The legislation…
Make Room on Your Bulletin Board for Virginia’s Notice on Reasonable Accommodations for Disability
The Virginia Office of Civil Rights has issued its new poster for employers regarding reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. Starting July 1, 2021, covered Virginia employers must post this poster in a conspicuous location and provide a copy of the poster to any employee who discloses they have a disability, within 10 days of
…
Virginia Employers Soon Must Adopt, Provide Accommodation Policies to Employees With Disabilities
Starting on July 1, 2021, most Virginia employers must include information in their employee handbooks about reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities and provide that information directly to any employee within 10 days after receiving notice that the employee has a disability. Read more about this new requirement.