On September 30, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 553 into law, creating a new layer to California employers’ existing injury and illness prevention programs (IIPP). Under SB 553, employers are required to...more
On October 13, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed California Senate Bill No. 525 (SB 525) into law. Effective June 1, 2024, the law raises the minimum wage for California healthcare employees and sets a new salary...more
On January 5, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a proposed rule that would prohibit employers from using noncompete agreements with their employees or independent contractors. Noncompete agreements are prevalent...more
On December 19, 2022, the New Jersey Senate passed Assembly Bill No. 4768 (A-4768), which, when effective, will implement a drastic expansion to New Jersey’s Millville Dallas Airmotive Plant Job Loss Notification Act (NJ WARN...more
1/12/2023
/ Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Labor Reform ,
Layoff Notices ,
Layoffs ,
New Jersey ,
New Legislation ,
Notice Requirements ,
Severance Pay ,
State Labor Laws ,
WARN Act
On November 16, 2022, New Jersey Senate Bill No. 315 (S-315) went into effect, providing new employment protections to eligible employees of certain private healthcare entities that undergo a “change in control.” The law...more
1/12/2023
/ Acquisitions ,
Buyers ,
Collective Bargaining ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Healthcare ,
Hiring & Firing ,
New Jersey ,
New Legislation ,
New Rules ,
Sellers
Effective January 1, 2023, Washington employers must comply with SB 5761, commonly known as Washington’s Pay Transparency Law, signed by Governor Jay Inslee on March 30, 2022. SB 5761 amends Washington’s Equal Pay and...more
12/6/2022
/ Employer Liability Issues ,
Equal Pay ,
Equal Pay Act ,
Governor Inslee ,
Job Ads ,
Job Applicants ,
New Legislation ,
Pay Equity Laws ,
Pay Transparency ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour ,
Washington
Effective January 1, 2023, California employers must comply with the requirements of Senate Bill 1162 ( SB 1162)—California’s pay transparency law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday, September 27, 2022. Among other...more
10/3/2022
/ California ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Governor Newsom ,
Job Applicants ,
Labor Code ,
New Legislation ,
Pay Rates ,
Pay Transparency ,
Salary/Wage History ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour
On August 11, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) unveiled its updated COVID-19 guidelines, revising both quarantine and isolation guidelines in the process. The updates reflect the growing number of...more
Employment background checks help employers hire individuals with integrity whom they can trust, and who do not present a risk to the business, other employees, or the customers and clients that the business serves. Buyers in...more
8/22/2022
/ Background Checks ,
Buyers ,
California ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Application ,
Employment Litigation ,
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) ,
Job Applicants ,
Screening Procedures ,
Third-Party Release Agrements ,
Vendors
Effective August 10, 2022, Colorado’s laws governing restrictive covenants shall be amended to provide additional limitations and hurdles for employers who seek non-compete and non-solicit agreements with their employees,...more
8/10/2022
/ Colorado ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Highly Compensated Employees ,
Labor Law Violations ,
New Legislation ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Notice Requirements ,
Penalties ,
Restrictive Covenants ,
State Labor Laws
As of July 26, 2022, there are 3,591 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the United States, according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, and the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General has...more
7/29/2022
/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Risk Management ,
Safety Precautions ,
Workplace Safety ,
World Health Organization
On February 28, 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom extended the second readoption of the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health’s (Cal/OSHA) COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) currently...more
4/18/2022
/ Amended Rules ,
Cal-OSHA ,
California ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Governor Newsom ,
Masks ,
State and Local Government ,
Time Extensions ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
The courts continue to move the vaccine mandate goalposts on employers as dozens of legal challenges work their way through the courts. The latest developments are major game changers for employers. As of the publishing of...more
On December 13, 2021, New York City’s Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), Dr. Dave A. Chokshi, published an order (the Order) requiring private employers to impose COVID-19...more
12/17/2021
/ City of New York ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Covered Employees ,
Covered Employer ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Exemptions ,
Masks ,
Regulatory Mandates ,
Vaccinations
On December 6, 2021, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that all New York City employers, regardless of size, will be required to impose COVID-19 vaccination mandates on all employees (subject to legally protected...more
On November 4, 2021, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) unveiled its Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to protect employees of large employers in all industries from COVID-19. The Centers for...more
11/5/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Deadlines ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Contractors ,
Final Rules ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare Workers ,
OSHA ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
On October 28, 2021, several details were released regarding the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) highly anticipated emergency temporary standard (ETS), also known as the “vax-or-test rule.” The ETS,...more
On September 9, 2021, US President Joe Biden announced a multipronged plan to increase the number of Americans who are vaccinated for COVID-19. In the plan, titled “Path Out of the Pandemic: President Biden’s COVID-19 Action...more
9/27/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Executive Branch ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Contractors ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Healthcare Workers ,
OSHA ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing
On July 26, 2021, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a new Order that impacts healthcare and state employers in California. The CDPH Order requires that almost all healthcare employers verify the...more
7/29/2021
/ California ,
Compliance ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Deadlines ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Required Documentation ,
State and Local Government ,
State Employees ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing
On July 27, 2021, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised its COVID-19 mask guidance, recommending that fully vaccinated individuals should wear a mask in indoor public spaces if they are located in areas of...more
Can employers offer incentives for employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine? In short, yes. Incentives may take many forms, such as a one-time bonus, a gift card or a few extra vacation hours. Employers can get creative. ...more
7/28/2021
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Confidential Information ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Incentives ,
IRS ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Vaccinations
On July 15, 2021, the Supreme Court of California issued a long-awaited decision in Ferra v. Loews Hollywood Hotel, LLC. The Court reversed the trial and appellate court holdings and concluded that California employers must...more
7/19/2021
/ Appellate Courts ,
CA Supreme Court ,
Compensation ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Litigation ,
Employment Policies ,
Labor Regulations ,
Rest and Meal Break ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour
On June 21, 2021, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) long-anticipated Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for COVID-19 requirements in the healthcare industry went into effect. Most of the...more
6/23/2021
/ Anti-Retaliation Provisions ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Covered Employer ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Healthcare ,
New Guidance ,
OSHA ,
Recordkeeping Requirements ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
Can an employer mandate or incentivize a COVID-19 vaccination? If so, what exceptions or exclusions apply? As COVID-19 vaccines have become increasingly available in the United States, and with new Centers for Disease Control...more
6/8/2021
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Confidential Information ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
GINA ,
Incentives ,
New Guidance ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Title VII ,
Vaccinations
As of May 16, 2021, 37.1% of the US population are fully vaccinated, with 47.4% reported to have at least one vaccination dose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As the vaccinated population...more
5/18/2021
/ Cal-OSHA ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Employment Policies ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Masks ,
New Guidance ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Social Distancing ,
State and Local Government ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety