“Social Security among survey’s worst federal workplaces” Repost from Washington Post, May 20, 2024 A survey of more than 1 million federal employees reflects the low morale of many workers. Overall, the federal government scored 65.7 out of 100, a 2.3-point increase over 2022. Unfortunately, for their employees and customers, some workplaces were well below that. The Social Security Administration (SSA) was at 52.1. Building on lessons he learned as Baltimore’s mayor and Maryland’s governor, SSA Commissioner Martin O’Malley is frank about the problems he faced when he joined the agency in Dec ..read more

On May 17, 2024, an Appeals Review Panel (ARP) of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) released its decision in Ex parte Chamberlain (referred to in Federal Circuit proceedings as In re Xencor; “Chamberlain”). The Chamberlain decision provides some clarity on the USPTO’s position on written description requirements for Jepson and means-plus-function claims in the life sciences space. Importantly, it suggests that carefully drafted means-plus-function claims are a potential path for Applicants to claim antibodies broadly by use of functional lang ..read more

Anyone and everyone who seriously follows marijuana news – of which there is plenty these days – knows to follow Marijuana Moment for lots of cannabis coverage and context. In the past week, of course, news around possible federal rescheduling is coming fast and furious, and I will here use ..read more

David Harrell, partner in Locke Lord in Houston, was named the 2024-2025 Houston Bar Association president during the association’s annual dinner on May 14, the HBA announced in a press release. Harrell succeeds Diana Gomez, who was recently elected to the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors representing District 4, Place 3. “I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as president of the Houston Bar Association,” Harrell said in a press release. “I look forward to working with the HBA’s board, staff, and members to accomplish our major initiatives for the coming year, and I look forward t ..read more

90+ Google Reviews for the Law Firm of Kevin P. Sheerin – pre-employment evaluation – psychological disqualification – NYPD appeal – forensic assessment – police psych exam disqualifiers A Guide to Winning Your NYPD Appeal... Are you determined to join the prestigious ranks of the NYPD but received a Psychological Disqualification? Don’t lose hope! Let us guide you through the steps of appealing your disqualification and provide you with valuable insights to maximize your chances of becoming an NYPD Police Officer. The following is a break down of the disqualification process, which will shed ..read more

90+ Google Reviews for the Law Firm of Kevin P. Sheerin – pre-employment evaluation – psychological disqualification – NYPD appeal – forensic assessment – police psych exam disqualifiers A Guide to Winning Your NYPD Appeal... Are you determined to join the prestigious ranks of the NYPD but received a Psychological Disqualification? Don’t lose hope! Let us guide you through the steps of appealing your disqualification and provide you with valuable insights to maximize your chances of becoming an NYPD Police Officer. The following is a break down of the disqualification process, which will shed ..read more

On May 22, 2024, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) made a groundbreaking announcement that it declined prosecution of a biochemical company based on the company’s prompt voluntary self-disclosure of an employee’s export control violation and the company’s “exceptional” cooperation with DOJ’s National Security Division (“NSD”), the DOJ subcomponent responsible for investigating and prosecuting economic sanctions and export control violations (among other national security-related matters). This is the first declination the NSD has announced since issuing its new corporate enforcement policy (“N ..read more

As of April 17, 2024, a total of 12 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported from 7 states – Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Wisconsin. Illnesses started on dates ranging from February 11, 2024, to April 2, 2024. Of 11 people with information available, 1 person has been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. Of 12 people interviewed, 10 (83%) reported shopping at Trader Joe’s. Seven sick people reported buying or likely buying organic basil in 2.5 oz clamshell-style containers from Trader Joe’s. Add ..read more

Most hiring managers have a short-term problem. They have work that needs to be done and not enough bodies to do that work. The easiest thing to do is hire another body just like the ones they have working for them. Many of them may understand the benefits of having a diverse team regarding broader life experiences with different voices and ideas, but that’s a long-term benefit. It’s not solving their short-term problem. Hiring another member of the team is a short-term solution.  The post Linked – What Companies Get Wrong About Skills-Based Hiring appeared first on Mike McBride Online. I ..read more

As of May 16, CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are collecting different types of data to investigate a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157 infections. Epidemiologic and traceback data show that organic walnuts distributed by Gibson Farms, Inc. may be contaminated with E. coli and may be making people sick. Epidemiologic Data As of April 30, 2024, 12 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli have been reported from 2 states (see map). Illnesses started on dates rangin ..read more