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Massachusetts Superior Court Holds That The MA PFMLA Does Not Provide For Individual Liability Or An Aiding And Abetting Claim

Seyfarth Synopsis: In a recent Massachusetts Superior Court decision, the Court held that there is no individual liability or aiding and abetting claim under the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFMLA). In Laughlin v. Binstar, Inc., et al., Binstar’s former CEO claimed that the company and its board members and investors violated the PFMLA by contacting him and asking him to perform work during his protected medical leave.…

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New Jersey Federal Court Says Employer’s Home State Proper Venue for Remote Worker’s Age Discrimination Claims

Quick Hits A New Jersey federal court granted a request to transfer venue in an age discrimination lawsuit involving a remote employee, transferring the lawsuit to a federal court in a district where the employer was located. The court determined that venue was appropriate where the employer is headquartered and where the alleged discriminatory decisions were made, rather than where the employee resides, and emphasized that litigation convenience weighed in…

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New research reveals why some oesophageal cancers are so hard to treat

Research published in Science Advances has uncovered new insights into why the most aggressive oesophageal cancers are so difficult to treat and how the body’s own defence systems are helping them to thrive. The study, led by Professor Eileen Parkes and her team in the Department of Oncology at the University of Oxford, analysed patient-donated tumour samples and found that the most dangerous types of oesophageal cancers share a key…

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CMU Professor Uses Data to Connect Energy Assistance with Those in Need

Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University attest that while the United States needs to lower system-wide costs and air pollution to shape the future of energy, the core priority should be ensuring individuals can afford and access that energy. Destenie Nock Destenie Nock(opens in new window), assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering(opens in new window) and engineering and public policy(opens in new window), leads a research group comprised of graduate students at CMU…

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£9.6M SATURN-2 programme launched to deliver the UK’s next generation of nuclear experts

The University of Manchester, together with six leading UK universities and 22 industry partners, has secured £9.6 million from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to launch SATURN-2, a major expansion of the national nuclear doctoral training pipeline that will help deliver the skills required for the UK’s clean energy, security and defence ambitions.SATURN-2 (Skills and Training Underpinning a Renaissance in Nuclear) builds on the success of the original SATURN Centre…

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Oxford and Serum Institute of India sign IP license agreement to advance NipahB vaccine candidate

Under the terms of the agreement, SII has been granted a non-exclusive, worldwide licence in the field of Nipah virus vaccines, enabling the company to support the development, manufacture and potential future supply of the vaccine candidate developed at the University of Oxford.Nipah virus is a zoonotic pathogen associated with severe disease and high mortality, with outbreaks reported primarily in South and Southeast Asia since it was first identified in…

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Faye Holland joins pioneering Cambridge x Manchester collaboration as Partnership Director

Faye Holland will lead the groundbreaking partnership between two of the UK’s leading innovation cities as the newly-appointed Cambridge x Manchester Partnership Director.Faye brings extensive experience in the Cambridge innovation cluster to the role, having worked across communications consultancy, innovation and economic development over the course of her career.She founded and directed cofinitive – a communication consultancy at the forefront of innovation – for a decade before selling and exiting…

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SJC Affirms Whistleblower Protection for Employees Involved in the Wrongdoing They Report

Background Under the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, colleges and universities that receive federal financial aid are required to collect and disclose statistics for certain “reported” crimes, including sex offenses. In Galvin, the plaintiff employee, Thomas Galvin, served as the defendant college’s primary campus security authority and chief compliance officer for the Clery Act. As such, Galvin was responsible for making Clery Act disclosures. In November 2010, Galvin learned of…

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The Era of Chaos and a New Crisis Around Iran

This could include internal opposition forces popular in major cities and among educated strata, émigrés (many highly educated and talented individuals who wield significant influence abroad yet remain concerned about their homeland—US politicians cannot ignore the two-million-strong, highly active Iranian diaspora), and parts of the current elite, most likely mid- and lower-level bureaucrats. Prince Reza Pahlavi—the son of the last Shah—is viewed as a potential leader. While his political activity…

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Sixth Circuit Finds Sexual Harassment Claim Can Bar Entire Case From Arbitration

Quick Hits In Bruce v. Adams and Reese, LLP, a former employee sued a law firm for disability discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment, and hostile work environment. The Sixth Circuit recently concluded that a mandatory pre-dispute arbitration agreement is voidable when a plaintiff brings multiple claims in a case that includes sexual harassment and/or sexual assault. This is the first federal appellate ruling to find that an entire lawsuit is barred…

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Hold the housewarming party: Three FHSA considerations before making a down payment

The First Home Savings Account (FHSA) emerged as a federal policy response to the growing housing affordability challenges faced by first time home buyers, particularly younger Canadians. Legislation establishing the FHSA received royal assent in late 2022, formally embedding the account into Canada’s registered savings framework. Since its launch, the FHSA has been administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) who has provided guidance via interpretive updates and technical clarifications.…

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CMU Researchers Help Reduce Energy Grid Uncertainty

At Carnegie Mellon University, researchers are helping cities learn how to make room for too much of a good thing: renewable energy.Shixiang (Woody) Zhu(opens in new window), an assistant professor of data analytics within the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy(opens in new window), is using his expertise in statistics and operations research to help one Midwestern city, Indianapolis, rethink its grid. Zhu and his research colleagues partnered with utility…

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Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences designated as the WHO Collaborating Centre on Primary Health Care

The four-year designation formalises and builds on the Department’s longstanding collaboration with the WHO, acknowledging its many years of expert support to countries working to strengthen primary health care.With internationally recognised expertise in health systems analysis, evidence synthesis, clinical trials, digital health, qualitative research and implementation science, the Department is well placed to support the WHO and its Member States in strengthening primary health care-oriented health systems worldwide.This latest designation…

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40-Hour Workweek Is Now a Reality in Mexico: Dos and Don’ts for Employers

Quick Hits The standard workweek in Mexico will decrease from forty-eight to forty hours, by two hours per year starting in 2027. Wages and benefits cannot be reduced. Overtime is restructured. A six-day schedule remains permissible. Key Changes Under the Reform Reduced weekly hours. The standard workweek will decrease to forty hours per week in 2030. The reform does not mandate two rest days per week. Hence, the current structure…

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Permanent establishment and remote work: OECD’s 2025 update and your organization

Since COVID-19, remote and hybrid work have permanently reshaped where people work, leading to real tax consequences for employers. On Nov. 19, 2025, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) released updates to the Model Tax Convention and its Commentary, introducing a clearer framework for assessing when a remote employee's home office may constitute a "permanent establishment" (PE) of their employer in another jurisdiction. Canadian organizations with cross‑border workforces…

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Piero Cipollone: A highway for the future of Europe’s digital finance

12 March 2026By Piero Cipollone, Member of the Executive Board of the ECBAs payments and financial markets go digital, central bank money must evolve too. Through initiatives such as Pontes and Appia, the Eurosystem is working with market participants to ensure that tokenised finance can settle safely in central bank money, supporting innovation, integration and Europe’s financial sovereignty.Technology is transforming how we communicate, travel, work and pay. The way that…

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Reluctance to rely on China for green technology could slow climate action

New research suggests that concerns about relying too heavily on Chinese manufacturing are shaping climate policy - and could even delay the adoption of green technologies around the world.The study by Dr James Jackson from The University of Manchester, working alongside Dr Mathias Larsen from the London School of Economics, examined how China’s rapid rise as a clean-technology powerhouse has transformed the global energy transition.While Chinese investment and industrial policy…

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NLRB’s Aggressive Bargaining Order Framework Rejected by Sixth Circuit as Agency Overreach

Quick Hits The Sixth Circuit declined to enforce the NLRB’s 2023 Cemex standard, which allowed bargaining orders based on unfair labor practices without regard for the results of secret-ballot elections. The court reasoned that the Board engaged in improper rulemaking disguised as adjudication. The court emphasized that the Board overstepped its authority by disregarding the longstanding preference for secret-ballot elections “as the barometer of a union’s support among employees.” The…

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Canada extends clean economy ITC filing deadlines

Over the past few years Canada has introduced a series of “clean economy” investment tax credits (ITCs) designed to support Canada’s transition towards a net-zero economy by 2050. These new ITCs (described here) represent a major tax policy expenditure by the Canadian government, with tax credit rates as high as 60 per cent of qualifying expenditures. The general rule for claiming clean economy ITCs in any given taxation year is…

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The Board of Peace as an Alternative to the United Nations: Towards Hierarchical Multipolarity?

A crisis of confidence in the universalist model is evident. It is worth recalling that the United States was its principal architect, stood at the origins of the United Nations, and historically acted not only as its largest donor, but effectively as one of the political guarantors of the stability of the entire post-war international order. Washington’s withdrawal in January of this year from a substantial number of economic, social,…

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Colorado Seeks to Increase Worker Safety Protections

Quick Hits HB 26-1054 was drafted to address workplace safety standards in a time of declining federal enforcement and would grant the Colorado attorney general and private citizens the ability to file civil lawsuits to ensure the law is followed. The bill would increase the state’s role in workplace safety by allowing state lawmakers to create new workplace safety rules when existing federal regulations are repealed. Opponents of the legislation…

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Canada privacy laws: What U.S. businesses need to know

If you are a consumer-facing business in the United States or are in the field of advising them on privacy matters, you are aware of the importance of privacy and data protection compliance. Despite this awareness, too many companies and counsels tend to overlook the need to consider Canadian privacy laws, especially when engaging in cross-border commercial transactions, and overlooking at the same time Québec privacy law which has a…

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SCOTUS vs. Trump’s ‘Tariff Diplomacy’

Of course, Sections 201 and 301 of United States trade legislation also exist, and they do not establish a percentage ceiling for tariffs. These provisions allow the President to increase tariffs to any level, impose additional duties and tariff quotas, suspend trade concessions, and apply other trade restrictions. In such cases, however, the grounds must be either serious harm to an American industry, a violation of trade agreements by foreign…

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USCIS Introduces a New Edition of Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker

Quick Hits The new Form I-129 edition dated February 27, 2026, replaces the January 20, 2025, edition, which USCIS will not accept for petitions postmarked on or after April 1, 2026. The updated form requires detailed position requirements. FY 2027 H-1B Cap Season The H-1B registration period for FY 2027 opened at noon eastern time on March 4, 2026, and closes at noon eastern time on March 19, 2026. A…

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Expert Comment: Could oil price surge accelerate the UK’s shift to renewables?

Dr Laurence Wainwright Dr Laurence Wainwright, Departmental Lecturer and Course Director, MSc Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment, said: The opening months of 2026 have been characterised by unprecedented levels of geo-political-economic turbulence, uncertainty and volatility. The launch of “Operation Epic Fury” on 28 February has had, and will continue to have, profound implications for global energy availability, cost, and security - as well as significant broader economic implications. For the United Kingdom,…

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The King presents The Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Education

The King presented The Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Higher and Further Education in recognition of outstanding work at UK universities and colleges in a ceremony at St James's Palace.Recipients included a centre tackling sustainability in the textile industry, a partnership providing higher education in prisons, and groundbreaking research into Paralympic performance.This year, the University of Oxford was awarded a Queen Elizabeth Prize for Higher and Further Education in recognition of…

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Social Sciences Impact Conference to bring together researchers and partners to explore ‘Impact in Motion’

Researchers from more than 20 universities are expected to take part, including Oxford, Oxford Brookes, Cambridge, Manchester, UCL, Queen’s University Belfast, Exeter, Southampton, Bournemouth, Leicester, Royal Holloway, Cardiff, Huddersfield, Warwick, Birmingham and Sheffield. The programme will also feature speakers from organisations working across policy, international development, research funding and public engagement, including the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, UNHCR, the British Academy, the International Rescue Committee, ESRC, BBC Ideas, the…

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New research reveals how development and sex shape the brain

Researchers from the University of Oxford have created the first high-resolution molecular atlas of the adult Drosophila melanogaster (common fruit fly) brain, uncovering how the neurons that drive behaviour in adults retain a record of their developmental origins. A companion study, released in parallel, shows how these same developmental programs are selectively reused and modified by sex to generate male and female behavioural diversity.Together, these papers provide a new framework…

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Immediate Termination in Germany for Online Sick Leave Without Medical Examination

Quick Hits Digitalization in business processes in Germany has led to challenges such as the online acquisition and submission of sick leave certificates without physician contact. The Higher Labor Court of Hamm ruled that a sick leave certificate obtained without a personal medical examination is insufficient and can justify an employee’s immediate. Businesses may want to educate supervisors and HR departments on the varying evidentiary value of sick leave certificates,…

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Why the economy needs healthy oceans

10 March 2026By Andrej Ceglar, Irene Heemskerk and John HutchinsonHealthy oceans are vital for our economies. Stopping marine degradation would protect industries like fishing and tourism, while also helping to combat climate change. The ECB Blog discusses the action that needs to be taken and why these challenges matter to central banks.Oceans cover over 70% of the Earth’s surface. Yet their importance for our economies, and indeed for life on…

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Federal Court Denies FLSA’s Administrative Exemption for Staffing Recruiters

Quick Hits A federal district court recently concluded that IT recruiters for a staffing firm qualified for overtime pay because they did not fall within the FLSA’s administrative exemption. The court relied on the administrative/production dichotomy, which distinguishes nonexempt workers who produce and sell a company’s goods and services from exempt workers who administer the business. The court also concluded that the job duties of the recruiters did not rise…

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New study suggests ultrasound could help save hedgehogs

Dr Rasmussen added: “Our novel results revealed that European hedgehogs are designed to, and can, perceive a broad ultrasonic range. A fascinating question now is whether they use ultrasound to communicate with each other, or to detect prey – something we have already begun investigating.”Lead researcher Assistant Professor Sophie Lund Rasmussen, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit and Department of Biology.The European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is one of our best-loved mammals, but populations…

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Study reveals worrying extent of imprecise gene and gene mutation naming

A systematic review of 52 scientific papers submitted to a world-leading clinical genetics journal from multiple scientists over a two-year period reveals that not a single one named critical gene mutations (correctly termed as variants) with precision.The findings partly explain why around 70% of rare diseases go undiagnosed, even in the UK, which arguably has the worlds most advanced genomic medicine service.Led by Dr Peter Freeman, a geneticist from The…

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Five Manchester academics become Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences

The Academy of Social Sciences has elected five experts from The University of Manchester as Fellows in recognition of their significant contributions to social science, highlighting the relevance of the social sciences in understanding and addressing the many varied societal challenges facing the UK and the world today.Professor Lucy Frith is a leading bioethicist whose work spans socio-legal studies and health research. She is internationally recognised for her work in…

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Low unemployment, plenty of labour: what does it imply for wage pressures?

9 March 2026By Oscar Arce and David SondermannEuro area unemployment is near record lows and set to fall further. Yet wage growth is projected to moderate. Paradox? Not if you look beyond unemployment – immigration, participation, job switching and firms’ hiring intentions are all part of the story.Slack in the labour market is a key input into monetary policy assessments of wage growth and inflation.[1] It is about the balance…

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Professor Rebecca Eynon elected to prestigious Academy of Social Sciences Fellowship

Her research examines the injustices that can arise from the use of technologies in learning and education.Professor Eynon, who holds a joint academic post at the Oxford Internet Institute and the Department of Education at the University of Oxford, said: 'I am delighted and honoured to be elected a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and join such an esteemed community. I am indebted to my academic colleagues, students, and collaborators…

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