Author: Rebecca Bernhard

Rebecca's experience spans traditional labor and employment, immigration, and federal contract compliance and audits. She supports clients with their corporate transactions, advising on all aspects of labor and employment diligence, negotiating with new unions and conducting effects bargaining, and assisting her clients with post-acquisition or post-divestiture integration. Prior to joining the firm, she served as Senior VP of HR and Associate General Counsel at one of the nation’s largest student loan guarantors. She is a frequent author and speaker on labor and employment topics confronting HR professionals, including legal issues related to talent management, succession planning, and compliance.

Cap-Subject H-1B Visa Petitions to be filed on April 2, 2018

The annual H-1B cap season will be opening April 2, 2018.  As usual, the application window period is 5 business days.  65,000 H-1B visas are allotted every year. An additional 20,000 visas are set aside for individuals with a U.S. Master’s or higher degree. In general, first time H-1B visa applicants, such as foreign students...

New OSHA Rule Effective Next Month – Are Your Drug-Testing Policies Placing You At Risk?

Certain provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (“OSHA’s”) new reporting Rule, which go into effect on August 10, 2016, implicate employers’ post-injury and post-accident drug-testing policies.  As the compliance deadline is swiftly approaching, employers are reminded to set time aside over the next few weeks to confer with counsel, review their policies, and...