About
Sami Asaad works closely with business leaders to develop practical solutions to the broad array of legal challenges employers face in managing a modern workplace.
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Sami provides proactive day-to-day counsel on a host of issues, ranging from familiar challenges, such as wage and hour compliance and sensitive personnel decisions, to emerging workplace concerns. These include remote/flexible work arrangements, arbitration agreements, mobile apps and employee privacy, alternative wage payment methods, state and local paid leaves, medical/recreational marijuana and drug testing, and accommodation of employees’ psychological disabilities and addictions. Sami's clients operate in a variety of industries including health care, staffing, technology, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, financial services, and retail.
Sami counsels home care agencies and provides innovative strategies on the unique issues agencies face, such as managing and compensating live-in aides. He has represented home care agencies in investigations by federal and state labor departments and has presented seminars and webinars to multiple home care franchise systems and industry groups, including the Home Care Association of America (HCAOA).
Sami also defends employers in lawsuits filed by employees in state and federal courts and in arbitration and represents employers in investigations by state and federal administrative agencies such as the EEOC and the U.S. Department of Labor. Sami has defended employers against claims of wrongful discharge, retaliation, discrimination, harassment, wage and hour violations, employee misclassification, breach of contract, and federal and state statutory violations.
Sami is an experienced speaker and trainer, having presented numerous seminars and webinars to managers and in-house counsel on emerging labor and employment issues, harassment prevention, wage and hour compliance, and HR best practices.
Practices
Employment and Labor
Home Health and Home Care
Admissions
Connecticut
New York
New Jersey
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Education
Quinnipiac University School of Law J.D., magna cum laude, 2006
Ramapo College B.A. cum laude, 2003
Memberships
Rebuilding Together Hartford, Board Member
Honors and Awards
Best Lawyers in America - Employment Law - Management
"Connecticut Rising Stars," Super Lawyers magazine (2013-2021)
"Connecticut New Leader of the Law," Connecticut Law Tribune (2015)
*Sami was selected to the Rising Stars list issued by Thomson Reuters. The selection methodology is found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
*Sami was selected to the Connecticut New Leader of the Law List by Connecticut Law Tribune. The selection methodology is found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
Experience
FordHarrison
McCarter & English, LLP
Representative Experience
Represented a large home care agency in an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor and negotiated a settlement that reduced the client’s exposure by over 75%.
Defended a national retailer in a putative class action asserted on behalf of thousands of hourly workers throughout the retailer’s New York stores and obtained a complete dismissal of the class claims on summary judgment.
Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a hospital system, dismissing an employee’s federal and state law claims of sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and retaliation.
Secured, after full hearing, an arbitration award on behalf of a health care staffing agency for the full amount of its liquidated damages against a former employee, a foreign (H-1B) worker who breached her contract to fulfill a three-year term of employment. The agency had provided the employee with considerable educational and immigration-related services, resulting in her becoming a US-licensed physical therapist, but the employee sought to evade her contractual obligations by accusing the agency of violating federal anti-human-trafficking and anti-slavery laws. The arbitrator ruled in the agency’s favor on all such claims.
Obtained, after a full fact-finding conference, a “no reasonable cause” determination from a state human rights agency, resulting in the complete dismissal of race and national origin discrimination claims leveled against a behavioral health clinic and its owner.
Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a major New York health care system, dismissing Title VII and NYCHRL retaliation claims by a former doctor who alleged that the system prevented her from becoming hired by other hospitals.
Publications
“Telework Wave May Spur New Approach To Worker Coaching" – Law360 Employment Authority (Feb 22, 2022)
“Telework Boom Has Employers Rethinking Hiring, Onboarding” – Law360 Employment Authority (Feb 18, 2022)
“New York Expands Protections for Employees who Report Alleged Workplace Violations” – Legal Alert (Feb 14, 2022)
“UPDATE: CMS Delays Enforcement of Its COVID–19 Vaccine Mandate in 24 States” – Legal Alert (Jan 18, 2022)
“U.S. Supreme Court Allows CMS Vaccine Mandate to Proceed” – Legal Alert (Jan 13, 2022)
“The CMS Rule Addressing COVID–19 Vaccination Requirements for Healthcare Workers” – Legal Alert (Nov 12, 2021)
“Voluntary FFCRA Leave Expanded and Extended Until September 30, 2021” – Legal Alert (Mar 25, 2021)
“DOL addresses posting requirements for virtual workplaces” – Georgia Employment Law Letter (January 2021)
“Virtual Posters –New DOL Guidance on Federally–Mandated Notices in a Virtual Workplace” – Legal Alert (Dec 30, 2020)
“COVID–19 making it easier for employees to file whistleblower retaliation claims” – Georgia Employment Law Letter (December 2020)
“Has COVID–19 Made It Easier for Employees to File "Whistleblower Retaliation" Lawsuits? – Legal Alert (Nov 19, 2020)
“DOL Issues New Rule to Address Recent Court Decision on Certain FFCRA Provisions” – Legal Alert (Sep 14, 2020)
“Judge's FFCRA Ruling Invalidates USDOL's "Health Care Provider" Definition and Raises Questions About Paid Leave Eligibility During Pandemic–Related Shutdowns” – Legal Alert (Aug 03, 2020)
“Connecticut Creates Rebuttable Presumption that COVID Infection was Work–Related for First Months of the Pandemic – Legal Alert (Jul 29, 2020)
“Returning to Work in Connecticut: Phase 1 Guidelines – Legal Alert (May 14, 2020)
“Recent COVID–19–Related Executive Orders Impact Connecticut Employers” – Legal Alert (Apr 10, 2020)
“Labor Regulations Add Clarity and Controversy To COVID–19 Paid Sick and Family Leave – Legal Alert (Apr 03, 2020)
“Connecticut Update: State Issues Guidance Regarding What Businesses Are Exempt From Mandatory Closure” – Legal Alert (Mar 23, 2020)
“Connecticut Governor Lamont Orders Closure of Additional Businesses, Reschedules Connecticut's Primary Election and Orders all Nonessential Workers to Remain Home” – Legal Alert (Mar 20, 2020)
“Connecticut Update: Governor Lamont Announces Additional Measures to Mitigate the Spread of COVID–19” – Legal Alert (Mar 19, 2020)
“Connecticut Governor Signs Executive Order Closing Schools and Ordering the Closure of Certain Businesses” – Legal Alert (Mar 17, 2020)
“Legalized Recreational Marijuana Poses Opportunities and Threats to Various CT Business Interests” – Hartford Business Journal (February 25, 2020)
Speaking Engagements
“Real Stories of Home Care Legal Land Mines (and How to Avoid Them)” – Home Care and Hospice Association of New Jersey’s Annual Conference (June 4, 2024)
“5 Legal Landmines and How to Avoid Them” – HomecareCEO (Mar 09, 2023)
“2022 Home Care Employment Law Update – Hiring, Firing, and Everything in Between” – Webinar (Sep 15, 2022)
“Ban on ‘No–Hire’ Agreements” – Home Care Association of America, CT Chapter (Jun 23, 2022)
“Labor and Employment Law Update”– Home Care Association of America, CT Chapter (Apr 20, 2022)
Moderator/Panelist – “The Risk–Benefit Equation for Remote and Hybrid Work” –American Conference Institute's 30th Annual EPLI National Conference (Jan 25, 2022)
“Employment Law Update – Hiring, Firing, and Everything in Between” – Home Care Association of America (Nov 18, 2021)
“Navigating the CMS Rule Addressing COVID–19 Vaccination Requirements for Healthcare Workers” – Webinar (Nov 16, 2021)
“Hot Topics in Labor Law for Home Care Agencies” – Home Care Association of America’s Annual Conference (Aug 03, 2021)
“OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard For Healthcare Employers” – Webinar (Jun 24, 2021)
“Legal Issues with Managing a Remote Workforce” – Community Foundation for Greater New Haven (May 25, 2021)
“Reimagining Work and Workplace After COVID–19” – Council of New Jersey Grantmakers' Spring 2021 Conference (May 19, 2021)
“Recent Developments in Virginia Employment Law” – Home Care Association of America (HCAOA), Virginia Chapter (Apr 20, 2021)
“Legal Issues Regarding Employee COVID–19 Vaccination” – Home Care Association of America (HCAOA), SC Chapter (Mar 04, 2021)
“Cannabis in Arizona – Challenges Facing the Home Care Industry” – Home Care Association of America (HCAOA), AZ Chapter (Mar 03, 2021)
“Best Practices in Managing the Remote Workforce” – Hartford Foundation for Public Giving (Feb 24, 2021)
“COVID–19 Vaccines and the Workplace: Expectations and Next Steps” – Webinar (Jan 28, 2021”
“Legal Issues Regarding Employee COVID–19 Vaccination” – Home Care Association of America (HCAOA), Ohio Chapter (Jan 20, 2021)
“Cutting Edge COVID–19 Management Issues for 2020 … And Beyond” – Academy of New Jersey Management Attorneys (Nov 17, 2020)
“Virtual Workplaces and Other Accommodations in the New Normal” – Ius Laboris 2020 Legal HR Summit (Nov 05, 2020)
“Now What? Judge Invalidates Key FFCRA Regulations Leaving Employers with More Questions Than Answers” – Webinar (Aug 07, 2020)
“Coronavirus and its Impact on Home Care: What Agencies and Employers Need to Know Now” – Home Care Association of America, Connecticut (Apr 09, 2020)
“Minimizing Home Care Employment Risks During the COVID–19 Pandemic” – Home Care Breakthrough Solutions Virtual Summit (Mar 27, 2020)
“Coronavirus (COVID–19) Update – Is Your Global Organization Ready?” – Webinar (March 26, 2020)
“Coronavirus (COVID–19) Update – Is Your Business Ready for the Employment and Employee Benefit Changes?” – Webinar (March 20, 2020)