ANDREWS & BEARD NEWSLETTERS (PDF format):
Education Law Report - September 2008
Education Law Report - April 2008
Education Law Report - January 2008
Education Law Report - October 2007
Education Law Report - March 2007
Education Law Report - January 2007
Education Law Report - November 2006
Education Law Report - September 2006
Attorney Willett Named Partner
Andrews and Beard is pleased to announce that AIMEE L. WILLETT has become a partner in the Law Firm. Attorney Willett joined the Firm in 2002. She concentrates her practice in the areas of Labor and Employment Law, Education Law, and Workers' Compensation.
Prior to joining the Firm, Aimee served as a law clerk to the Honorable Hiram A. Carpenter, III, for the Court of Common Pleas of Blair County from 2000-2002. She received her law degree from the Widener University School of Law in Wilmington, Delaware, and her bachelor degree in political science and anthropology from the University of Pittsburgh.
Ms. Willett is an adjunct professor in the Master of Science in Health and Human Services Administration Program at Mount Aloysius College, Cresson, PA and the Graduate School of Human Resource Management at St. Francis University, Loretto, PA.
Aimee resides in Cambria County with her husband and daughter. You may reach Attorney Willett at Andrews and Beard at 814-943-9829 or by email at
awillett@andrewsbeard.com.
Imler Joins Law Firm
Andrews and Beard is pleased to announce that JASON M. IMLER has become associated with the Firm. Attorney Imler concentrates his law practice in the areas of Labor and Employment Law, and Education Law.
Mr. Imler is a 2008 graduate of the Michigan State University School of Law where he was on the dean's list all semesters. He is a 2000 graduate of Juniata College where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics and a 1996 graduate of Central High School.
Jason resides in Duncansville. You may reach Attorney Imler at Andrews and Beard at 814-296-2314 or by email at
jimler@andrewsbeard.com.
Andrews and Beard to Receive Chamber Small Business Award
Andrews and Beard is honored to be selected as an honoree by the Business Hall of Fame of the Altoona-Blair County Chamber of Commerce. The Firm received an award for Excellence In Small Business at the annual dinner October 20th.
Client Alert July 1, 2008: Pennsylvania Smoking Ban Affects Work Places
The new Smoke Free Pennsylvania Act, signed by Governor Rendell on June 13th, which becomes effective September 11, 2008, prohibits smoking in the "workplace." A "workplace" is defined as an indoor area serving as a place of employment, occupation, business, trade, craft, professional or volunteer activity."
Therefore, starting September 11, 2008, no Employer in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania can permit smoking in any indoor area of the workplace. Even if a collective bargaining agreement designates smoking areas, the smoking ban will be in effect.
This ban on smoking in enclosed areas of the workplace presents some challenging issues for Employers that should be addressed prior to September 11, 2008. For example, if Employers wish to permit employees to smoke outside of the indoor area of the workplace, Employers must decide whether to provide break times for such smoking. An issue that is raised is the fact of whether an Employer is giving a benefit to smokers by permitting a smoker to go outside to smoke if the non-smokers are not permitted to leave the premises during a break activity.
In addition, if the Employer permits employees to go outside to smoke, it may make it more difficult to regulate the actual time taken for a break. Employers will need to address such issues through policies if the Employer is a non-Union Employer.
For Union Employers, the Union may request to bargain over outside smoking areas, and if smoking has been permitted on the Employer's premises in the past, it is our opinion that such a subject would be a mandatory subject of bargaining. Employers will need to address whether smoking will be permitted in designated areas outside the workplace, or whether smoking will be permitted in parking lots, or whether smoking will be banned totally on all property of the Employer, whether it be indoor or outdoor. However, for an Employer represented by a Union, the Employer can only ban smoking in the indoor area pursuant to the law, unless it has already banned smoking on the entire premises through collective bargaining in the past.
This law does provide for criminal penalties as well as administrative penalties. Employers need to begin preparing for compliance with this law as soon as possible, since September 11th will be here in no time.
If you wish to discuss any implications of the passage of this law, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Blair County Sports Hall of Fame Has Record Year!
With Pittsburgh Steeler Hines Ward as its speaker, the Blair County Sports Hall of Fame had a banner year with more than 1000 people attending its April 12th dinner at the Blair County Convention Center. This year's event inducted five more athletes and one team into the Hall of Fame, honored a community group for service and gave two scholarships to high school athletes planning to attend college next year. Congratulations to the entire Hall of Fame committee for a fabulous year.
President David Andrews thanks the record crowd of 1000 people for its support of the Hall of Fame event.
Pittsburgh Steeler wide receiver Hines Ward talks with Blair County Sports Hall of Fame President David Andrews during dinner.
Andrews Presides Over College Commencement
Firm managing partner David Andrews presided over the 130th Commencement ceremony at Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA on Saturday, May 10, 2008. A 1974 graduate of Juniata, Mr. Andrews is president of the Board of Trustees.
