Rachel B. Cowen
Subscribe to Rachel B. Cowen's PostsRachel B. Cowen focuses her practice in various employment discrimination and wrongful termination cases in federal and state courts. Rachel’s experience includes prosecuting and defending employee mobility and trade secret litigation on an emergency injunctive basis. She also counsels employers facing union organizing activity and picketing, and has successfully tried numerous cases before the National Labor Relations Board. She also handles collective bargaining and labor arbitrations. Additionally, Rachel represents financial services companies and professional engineering firms in unfair competition cases. Read Rachel Cowen's full bio.
How to Build COVID-19 Employment Litigation Defenses Now
By Rachel B. Cowen, Brian Mead and Richard I. Scharlat on Aug 20, 2020
Posted In Employment, Privacy and Data Security
The employment and business decisions made by employers under the specter of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic are now being tested by plaintiffs’ lawyers. Employers of all sizes should expect a flood of employment litigation alongside ever-changing conditions, constantly updated guidance and, at times, conflicting state and local guidance. Litigation avoidance will require a team effort and proactive communication – both internally and externally. This article outlines the types...
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Ninth Circuit En Banc Ruling Deepens Rift Over Gender-Based Pay Gaps
By Rachel B. Cowen on May 12, 2020
Posted In Employment
The Ninth Circuit’s recent en banc ruling that employers can’t excuse sex-based pay gaps by pointing to workers’ past salaries deepened a circuit split over the federal Equal Pay Act, a development that could push the issue up to the US Supreme Court. The majority’s opinion puts the Ninth Circuit directly at odds with the...
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CARES Act Payroll Tax Forum: IRS Weighs in on High-Profile Employee Retention Tax Credits
By Sarah L. Engle, Andrew Liazos, Brian Tiemann, David Fuller and Rachel B. Cowen on May 4, 2020
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employment
Decisions aimed at preserving your workforce in response to the COVID-19 pandemic can have a long-term impact on your business. As you prepare to emerge from government shutdown orders, recall that your workforce is your single most valuable asset. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides employee retention tax credits to help...
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Responses to Gender Pay Inequity: A Quick World Tour
By Marjorie C. Soto Garcia and Rachel B. Cowen on Oct 29, 2019
Posted In Employment
Most major jurisdictions have pay equity laws, but their approach is far from uniform. Global companies need to evaluate compliance with these laws on a country-by-country basis whilst simultaneously addressing their compensation policies globally. A sample of the rules across several countries helps to identify trends that can drive effective global policies. Australia The Australian...
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Fridays With Benefits Webinar | Terminating Employees: How to Minimize Liabilities
By Brian Mead and Rachel B. Cowen on Feb 5, 2019
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employment
Join us this Friday, February 8, for an interactive discussion on minimizing liabilities when terminating employees. Rachel Cowen and Brian Mead will talk about workplace investigations, releases and severance agreements. Our lively 45-minute discussion will tackle the following topics: 5 Best Practices for Termination Tips for Preparing Releases Dos and Don’ts With Benefits Friday, February...
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Webinar | Non-Compete Reform Comes to the Commonwealth
By Anthony A. Bongiorno, Andrew Liazos, Evan A. Belosa and Rachel B. Cowen on Sep 5, 2018
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employment, Executive Compensation
Join us on Thursday, September 6 at 1:00 PM EDT for a webinar designed to address questions around the Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act (the Act), signed into law by Governor Baker on Friday, August 10. The Act, which takes effect on October 1, requires all employers doing business in Massachusetts to change the way they...
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New Restrictions on Using Non-Competes in Massachusetts – What You Need to Know
By Anthony A. Bongiorno, Andrew Liazos, Evan A. Belosa and Rachel B. Cowen on Aug 14, 2018
Posted In Employment, Executive Compensation
The Massachusetts legislature’s recent approval of a comprehensive non-competition reform bill includes significant restrictions for employers seeking to impose non-compete obligations on Massachusetts workers. The Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act will become effective on October 1, 2018, leaving little time for employers to consider what actions to take to protect their business interests. Access the full...
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