Recently we were catching up with some clients in our London office and discussing the potential implications of the Employment Rights Act (ERA) 2025. What became clear from our conversations was that many businesses are grappling with similar issues as they prepare for implementation of this very significant new piece of employment legislation. Below is … Continue Reading
State and local legislatures were active throughout the first quarter of 2026 in passing employment laws and ordinances concerning topics such as youth employment, workplace electronic monitoring, and noncompete agreements, to name a few. As always, our team will continue to monitor these and other state employment law developments. If you have questions or need … Continue Reading
This May, join us for a four‑part webinar series focused on timely US labor and employment law developments affecting employers. Each session offers one hour of practical insights. Choose the sessions most relevant to your needs, or join us for the full series. This complimentary series is designed for HR leaders, in‑house counsel, compliance teams … Continue Reading
On February 6, 2026, the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to implement and further address the 2024 amendments to California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). These proposed regulations represent the next phase of reform and are intended, as the LWDA explains, to “make more transparent and effective … Continue Reading
In recent years workplace leave policies and related legal frameworks have expanded to address a broader range of employee needs, including bereavement, pregnancy loss and paid family leave. Against this backdrop, legislators also are increasingly recognizing the personal and emotional significance of companion animals. As that recognition continues to expand, employers may be seeing early … Continue Reading
On March 11, 2026, Washington state Governor Bob Ferguson signed a law prohibiting employers from requiring employees to have tracking chips implanted beneath their skin as condition of employment. Washington now joins Arkansas, California, Missouri and ten other states which have passed similar laws, all addressing advances in workplace surveillance technology.… Continue Reading
Although rare, from time to time an employer may sue a current or former employee who makes negative public comments about the employer. In such cases, the employer may allege that the employee’s comments constitute defamation or tortiously interfered with the employer’s business relationships. Not surprisingly, the threat of litigation can have a substantial deterrent … Continue Reading
On March 6, 2026, Argentina enacted its sweeping Labor Modernization Law, a reform that reshapes the country’s employment framework and introduces the most significant changes to labor relations in decades. With 196 articles, the law goes far beyond amending the Employment Contract Law (LCT), touching collective bargaining, labor procedures, severance systems and employer costs. Below … Continue Reading
On March 6, 2026, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit became the first federal appeals court to reject the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB or Board) 2023 decision in Cemex Construction Materials Pacific, LLC, in which the NLRB changed the standard for issuing affirmative bargaining orders requiring employers to recognize and … Continue Reading
As we previously reported here and here, the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021 (“EFAA”) amended the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) by invalidating clauses in employment agreements mandating arbitration of sexual harassment and sexual assault cases. The EFAA permits a claimant in a sexual assault or sexual harassment case … Continue Reading
From Albany to Manhattan, employers in some of the nation’s largest jurisdictions are facing significant legal changes. Staying ahead of these developments is essential to maintaining compliance and minimizing risk. This update highlights several key employment law changes in New York state and New York City that employers should be aware of now.… Continue Reading
In enforcing the National Labor Relations Act (Act), the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board) exercises two principal functions: it supervises and conducts union representation elections through which employees decide whether be represented by a union, as well as decides cases involving alleged violations of the Act, referred to as unfair labor practice charges … Continue Reading
Today, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing to rescind the 2024 independent contractor rule and reinstate—largely—the 2021 rule’s analytical framework for determining employee versus independent contractor status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The proposal would also expressly apply that framework to the Family and Medical … Continue Reading
Marijuana has been and is presently classified as a Schedule I drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA), defined as having high abuse potential with no accepted medical use (Schedule I also includes heroin, LSD and MDMA (commonly known as “ecstasy”)). First recommended by the Biden Administration in 2023, on December 18, 2025, President … Continue Reading
Job applicants often worry about what sorts of things may prevent them from obtaining a position. Although applicants may understand that a lack of qualifications or experience can work against them, they might not be as aware that recruitment and hiring tools used by employers may be working against them as well. The processes employers … Continue Reading
USCIS has announced that the FY 2027 H‑1B cap registration window will run from March 4 to March 19, 2026. During this period, employers seeking to sponsor H‑1B workers for this year’s lottery (covering employment beginning October 1, 2026) must use a USCIS online account to electronically register each beneficiary for the selection process and … Continue Reading
Records of criminal convictions can last a lifetime, and thus can bring a lifetime of difficulty for employees with a criminal conviction history in finding employment, leaving them significantly disadvantaged before they even make it into the interview room. Lack of employment or difficulty assimilating after spending time in the criminal justice system can further … Continue Reading
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) started out 2026 by announcing several new procedural protocols and updated guidance and policy goals.… Continue Reading
For a variety of reasons, including confidentiality and protection of trade secrets, many employers maintain policies that prohibit or limit employees from making audio or visual recordings in the workplace. These policies were targeted by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) under the previous Administration, which found them unlawful under the employee and union-friendly standard … Continue Reading
Some Ohio construction businesses may need to prepare now for upcoming changes to state law imposing new requirements related to verifying worker eligibility.… Continue Reading
While the new government announced fairly drastic measures on the employment front when it was formed towards the end of January 2025, most of these changes have yet to take place. There are however a couple of developments to report: Belgium has long applied an early retirement regime known as a ‘bridge pension‘ or, following … Continue Reading
Japan – Amendments to the Childcare and Family Care Leave Act took effect on 1 April 2025, with further amendments to take effect on 1 October 2025. Singapore – Amendments to the Child Development Co-Savings Act 2001 took effect on 1 April 2025. Indonesia – Law No. 4 of 2024 regarding Maternal and Child Welfare … Continue Reading
In a ruling that clarifies a previously unsettled area of California employment law, a California Court of Appeal affirmed the enforceability of written, prospective meal period waivers for shifts between five and six hours long. The April 21, 2025 decision in Bradsbery v. Vicar Operating, Inc. explained that advanced “blanket” waivers are valid under the … Continue Reading
Although the meteoric rise in remote work prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have plateaued and may even be scaling back as employers press return-to-office policies, the reality is that many employees still work, and will continue to work, remotely. As employment law is largely legislated at the state level, the variation in how … Continue Reading
