The federal Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has issued proposed regulations to address various issues regarding how federal employers may comply with the new military caregiver provisions of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

The proposed regulations are similar to the FMLA regulations issued last year by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). They have, however, been tweaked to address the interaction of the military caregiver leave provisions with the various paid leave programs that are available to federal employees. The regulations do not address qualifying exigency leave because that type of leave is not afforded to federal employees.

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This week, a Maryland U.S. District Court ruled in favor of the U.S. government in a lawsuit challenging the legality of the E-Verify system (Chamber of Commerce of the United States v. Napolitano). This means that beginning September 8, 2009, federal contractors and subcontractors will be required to use the E-Verify system to ensure their employees are legally authorized to work in the United States. The requirement is designed to stop federal contractors and subcontractors from hiring illegal immigrants.

The E-Verify system is a federal government online database program that allows employers to verify employment eligibility by electronically comparing employee information taken from the Employment Eligibility Verification Form (Form I-9) against the records in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) databases. The system, which facilitates compliance with federal immigration laws and is currently voluntary for employers, is jointly operated by the DHS and the SSA and is overseen by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

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You may feel as if you can’t get away from discussions and debates on health care reform. When you turn on the TV, browse the Internet, or listen to the radio, you may be inundated with the latest challenges, fights, and screaming matches over the subject.

Although health care reform has become one of the most heated subjects in the news right now, how much do you know about it? Do you know what everyone is fighting about? What do you need to know about it as an employer? Is there anywhere you can go to get unbiased information on health care reform?

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Delaware Governor Jack Markell has signed an executive order that broadens the scope of discrimination protection in state government workplaces. Specifically, the order prohibits discrimination based on gender identity or expression and extends discrimination protection to all military veterans (instead of just Vietnam War veterans).

While discussing the executive order and his administration’s commitment to equality, Markell noted, “Discrimination in any form is wrong, and I will not stand for it as governor.” He further added, “I am proud to issue this executive order. It sends a clear signal that Delaware’s state government does not tolerate discrimination and is serious about fostering an inclusive working environment. Delaware’s state government must reflect the rich diversity of the citizens it serves.”

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The U.S. Senate confirmed Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court today in a 68-31 vote. As expected, the Senators voted along party lines, with all Senate Democrats and only nine Republicans voting to confirm President Barack Obama’s nominee. The final step in Sotomayor’s road to the Supreme Court will be a White House swearing-in ceremony, which reportedly could take place as early as this week.

Sotomayor will become the 111th Supreme Court justice and will join Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as the second woman on the current Supreme Court. In the history of the Court, she will be the third female justice and the first Hispanic justice.

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Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), and Edward Kennedy (D-Massachusetts) introduced the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) today in the U.S. Senate. ENDA was previously introduced on June 24 in the U.S. House of Representatives. If passed, ENDA would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

According to Senator Merkley, “There is no place in the workplace for employment discrimination.” He added, “No worker in America should be fired or denied a job based on who they are. Discrimination is wrong, period. I’m proud to join Senator Kennedy, who is a civil rights legend, and Senators Collins and Snowe, both champions for equality, in taking this next step in our ongoing effort to create a more perfect union and guarantee every American, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, the right to earn a living.”

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