Michael S. Arnold
Member / Chair, Employment, Labor & Benefits Practice
+1.212.692.6866
Michael Arnold is Chair of the firm's Employment, Labor & Benefits Practice. He is an employment lawyer who deftly handles a wide array of matters. His capabilities include counseling on everyday HR life cycle issues, defending management and senior executives in connection with employment-related proceedings, and assisting companies navigate the complex employment issues that arise in transactions. Michael’s clients appreciate his strong emphasis on providing not just legal advice, but also practical advice, that aligns with organizational and HR strategies while reducing exposure. He also prides himself on being user-friendly, responsive, and strategic.
When Michael is not with a client, he’s out there leading the Firm’s Employment, Labor and Benefits Section. He is still quite active blogging for Mintz’s award-winning Employment Matters Blog, where he currently serves as an Editor and where he’s twice been named a top author by JD Supra (2016 and 2017). His peers seem to like him too as they have recognized him consistently; first he was included on the New York Super Lawyers Rising Star List in 2012 and then included among the New York Super Lawyers List from 2013 through the present.
More specifically, here is what Michael is practicing on a day to day basis:
- Counseling on issues related to the HR life cycle (recruiting, staffing, performance, including evaluations and PIPs; engagement, retention, separation, including reduction in force; post-separation, including employee mobility issues), and compliance with discrimination, wage and hour, family and medical leave, workers’ compensation and disability, and other employment laws and regulations.
- Investigating and reporting on employee complaints, including sexual harassment and discrimination complaints, and assisting management resolve other employee relations issues.
- Conducting anti-discrimination/harassment and other HR and legal issue-based training seminars regarding legal requirements, best practices, and risk mitigation.
- Auditing and assisting in the development and implementation of employment policies, procedures, and practices.
- Representing management and senior executives in connection with a variety of complex employment litigation matters, including pre-trial, trial and appellate work; administrative discrimination charges and other agency proceedings (including EEOC, NYSDHR, NYCCHR, DOL, WCB); and arbitrations and mediations relating to wage and hour, discrimination, restrictive covenants, contract, and other employment-related disputes, including collective and class actions.
- Drafting and negotiating employment-related agreements and policies, including offer letters, employment and consulting agreements, restrictive covenant agreements, separation agreements, and employee-related regulatory disclosures.
- Representing clients in connection with corporate transactions and bankruptcy proceedings, including conducting employment-related due diligence and negotiating employment-related warrants and representations and related employment transaction documents.
Education
- Boston University School of Law (JD)
- Cornell University (BS, Industrial and Labor Relations)
Recognition & Awards
- Included on the New York Super Lawyers: Employment & Labor List (2019 - 2020)
Recent Insights
Viewpoints
New York Amends its Off-Duty Conduct Law to Account for Marijuana Use
May 3, 2021 |Blog
News & Press
Mintz Member and Chair of the firm’s Employment, Labor & Benefits Practice Michael Arnold was quoted in an article published by the Society for Human Resource Management’s HR Magazine that examined best practices to avoid liability for employers disciplining employees who lie about getting COVID-19 vaccinations.
Mintz Member and Chair of the firm’s Employment, Labor & Benefits Practice Michael Arnold was quoted in an article published by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)’s HR Magazine that provided key considerations for employers making a case for returning to the workplace, including employees’ perspectives and preferences, pandemic-related challenges, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for employers seeking to re-establish in-person business operations.
Events
Mintz’s Annual Employment Law Summit brought together thought leaders to discuss the most pressing issues employers are facing in today’s unprecedented work environment. Attendees heard presentations on the continued impact of COVID-19; social justice and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives; recent and anticipated changes to employment laws; and best practices for managing sensitive employee situations.
Viewpoints
CDC Vaccination Guidance Does Not Supersede State and Local Workplace Regulations
May 14, 2021 | Blog | By Danielle Bereznay, Jennifer Rubin, Michael Arnold, Corbin Carter
On May 13, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the “CDC”) published guidance indicating that fully vaccinated individuals do not need to wear a mask or physically distance in certain indoor and outdoor environments, except where otherwise required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. The guidance does not apply to healthcare settings and certain other environments.
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New York Amends its Off-Duty Conduct Law to Account for Marijuana Use
May 3, 2021 | Blog | By Michael Arnold, Danielle Bereznay, Corbin Carter
New York’s off duty conduct law will now explicitly apply to an employee’s off-duty use of cannabis. The change in law came as a result of the recent passage of “The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act,” which generally legalized the sale and use of cannabis for individuals 21 and over, and presents real compliance challenges for employers, which we discuss further below.
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New York State’s HERO Act Set to Impose Additional Workplace Health and Safety Obligations on Employers
April 30, 2021 | Blog | By Corbin Carter, Michael Arnold
The New York State Legislature recently passed the Health and Essential Rights Act (the “HERO Act”), which has been delivered to Governor Cuomo for his signature. The legislation seeks to address continued COVID-19 safety concerns in the workplace and is designed to codify, supplement, and replace numerous executive actions that have been issued throughout the pandemic. The HERO Act would also pass into law significant new health and safety obligations for New York employers, including the formation of joint labor-management workplace safety committees to help ensure worker safety. Employers should prepare now to come into compliance with the new law, which we summarize below.
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Department of Labor Issues Model COBRA Subsidy Notices and FAQs
April 22, 2021 | Blog | By Alden Bianchi, Michael Arnold, Corbin Carter
The Department of Labor has issued model notices regarding COBRA premium assistance (a/k/a COBRA subsidies). As we wrote about here, as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Congress sought to enable qualifying individuals – known under the law as “Assistance Eligible Individuals” – to continue their healthcare coverage by subsidizing their COBRA premium payments for the period between April 1 and September 30, 2021. We discuss these notice requirements and related issues below.
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Conference Recordings: Mintz's Annual Employment Law Summit
March 12, 2021 | Webinar | By Michael Arnold, David Barmak, Jessica Catlow, Micha Mitch Danzig, Geri Haight, Andrew Matzkin, David Lagasse, O'Kelly E. McWilliams, III, Jennifer Rubin, Tyrone Thomas, Alexander Hecht, Danielle Bereznay, Jennifer Budoff, Delaney Busch, Corbin Carter, Emma Follansbee, Natalie C. Groot, Paul Huston, Brie Kluytenaar, Brendan Lowd, Audrey Nguyen, Nicole Rivers, Richard Block
Mintz’s Annual Employment Law Summit brought together thought leaders to discuss the most pressing issues employers are facing in today’s unprecedented work environment. Attendees heard presentations on the continued impact of COVID-19; social justice and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives; recent and anticipated changes to employment laws; and best practices for managing sensitive employee situations.
Read more
New York State Department of Labor Updates Guidance on COVID-19 Leave Law
February 10, 2021 | Blog | By Corbin Carter, Michael Arnold
The New York State’s Department of Labor recently issued new Quarantine Leave guidance for 2021 – guidance that is certainly controversial in that it seemingly goes beyond the statutory text of the NY COVID-19 Quarantine Leave Law to create expansive new employer mandates. We previously wrote about New York’s COVID-19 leave requirements here and here. While the new guidance seems ripe for legal challenge, it nonetheless reflects the new position of the NYSDOL. Employers should review this new guidance – keeping in mind its informal, non-binding nature – as the pandemic continues to affect leave decision-making.
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CDC Issues Expanded Guidance for Workplace COVID-19 Testing Programs
February 5, 2021 | Blog | By Danielle Bereznay, Michael Arnold
The CDC has issued new guidance focused on ensuring employees’ informed consent for COVID-19 testing in the workplace. This builds on earlier guidance the CDC issued regarding workplace testing programs last fall. Because the CDC notes that employers should not conduct testing without an employee’s informed consent, employers should be prepared to answer employee questions and concerns by utilizing the recommend framework discussed below.
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New York City Amends Fair Chance Act, Further Limits Employers’ Consideration of Criminal History
January 8, 2021 | Blog | By Corbin Carter, Michael Arnold
The New York City Council has expanded NYC’s Fair Chance Act to further restrict NYC employers from taking adverse actions against applicants or employees based on their criminal history. The law will go into effect on or about July 28, 2021. We highlight the changes in the law and action items below.
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New COVID-19 Stimulus Package Becomes Law: FFCRA Considerations for Employers
December 28, 2020 | Blog | By Corbin Carter, Michael Arnold
The new COVID-19 stimulus package is now law. As discussed herein, it provides some employers an incentive to extend COVID-19 related FFCRA leave benefits through Q1 2021.
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NYC Releases Updated Paid Sick and Safe Time Notice of Employee Rights
November 2, 2020 | Blog | By Michael Arnold
A quick update to our earlier posts on New York State and New York City’s paid sick leave laws. The agency that enforces NYC’s paid sick and safe time law – the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection – has just released its updated sick and safe time Notice of Employee Rights, which you can access here. We highlight some compliance issues to consider below.
Read more
News & Press
Disciplining Workers for Lies About Vaccinations
May 4, 2021
Mintz Member and Chair of the firm’s Employment, Labor & Benefits Practice Michael Arnold was quoted in an article published by the Society for Human Resource Management’s HR Magazine that examined best practices to avoid liability for employers disciplining employees who lie about getting COVID-19 vaccinations.
Making the Case for Return to Office
March 30, 2021
Mintz Member and Chair of the firm’s Employment, Labor & Benefits Practice Michael Arnold was quoted in an article published by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)’s HR Magazine that provided key considerations for employers making a case for returning to the workplace, including employees’ perspectives and preferences, pandemic-related challenges, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for employers seeking to re-establish in-person business operations.
Counsel Who Care: How Attys Are Helping During A Crisis
June 16, 2020
Mintz Member and Chair of the firm’s Employment, Labor & Benefits Practice Michael Arnold was quoted in a recent Law360 article that highlighted the firm’s new pro bono initiative to provide employment law services to income-screened small businesses and nonprofits affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
4 Slam-Dunk Tips For Employers To Swish March Madness
March 15, 2018
Member and leader of the firm’s Employment, Labor & Benefits Practice Mike Arnold is quoted in this March Madness feature article. The story notes that employers should use this as an opportunity to create and foster company camaraderie and try to avoid being too harsh on employees.
Fourteen Mintz attorneys have been named New York Super Lawyers for 2017 and thirteen have been named New York Rising Stars. New York Super Lawyers recognizes the top lawyers with the highest degree of peer recognition and professional achievements.
Eighteen Mintz Attorneys Named 2013 New York Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
September 16, 2017
Mintz Named Top Firm in Energy and Eleven Attorneys Featured in JD Supra’s 2017 Reader’s Choice Awards
March 20, 2017
JD Supra has recognized Mintz in its 2017 Reader’s Choice awards, highlighting the most widely read authors and articles over the past year. Eleven Mintz attorneys were named JD Supra Top Authors in four industries and Mintz was recognized as the Top Firm with readers in the Energy Industry.
How to Proceed After Last-Minute Overtime Rule Freeze
November 23, 2016
Michael Arnold, a Mintz Employment, Labor & Benefits Member, was quoted in this Society for Human Resource Management article on the U.S. District Court for the Easter District of Texas’s temporary decision to place a nationwide hold on the overtime rule.
Sixteen Mintz attorneys have been named New York Super Lawyers for 2016 and twelve have been named New York Rising Stars. The list will be published in a special advertising supplement in The New York Times Magazine and in a stand-alone magazine, New York Super Lawyers - Metro Edition.
Michael Arnold, a New York Employment, Labor & Benefits Member, was quoted in this Law360 article on attorney feedback regarding the U.S. Department of Labor’s final overtime exemption rule.
White Collar OT Rules
May 19, 2016
Michael Arnold, a New York Employment, Labor & Benefits Member, is quoted in this news segment on the forthcoming US Department of Labor final rule regarding the “salary test” determining whether white collar workers will be subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act requirements for overtime pay.
Thirteen attorneys from Mintz have been named New York Super Lawyers for 2014 and eleven have been named New York Rising Stars. The list will be published in a special advertising supplement in The New York Times Magazine and in a stand-alone magazine, New York Super Lawyers - Metro Edition.
Mintz Elevates Ten Attorneys to Members of the Firm
May 16, 2013
Events
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Jan
28
2016
Second Annual Employment Law Summit
The Princeton Club 14 West 43rd Street, New York, New York
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