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Employee Rights State Labor Laws The National Labor Relations Act

Most countries provide some degree of workplace protection for employees and job applicants. Depending on the jurisdiction, these protections generally include safety precautions and policies, anti-discrimination... more +
Most countries provide some degree of workplace protection for employees and job applicants. Depending on the jurisdiction, these protections generally include safety precautions and policies, anti-discrimination policies, collective bargaining and unionizing rights, meal and rest requirements, minimum wage rules, and medical and family leave rights to name a few. In the United States, the federal framework for employee rights stem from statutes such as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). In addition, employee rights statutes are implemented and enforced by regulatory authorities such as the EEOC, NLRB, OSHA, and the Department of Labor. Further, many state and local governments provide additional and localized protections for employees that are enforced by local regulatory entities. less -
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

New Jersey Lawmakers Mull Stronger Labor Protections for Cannabis Industry Workers

New Jersey lawmakers recently advanced a bill that would expand labor protections for workers in the cannabis industry. If enacted, the measure—which provides stronger union organizing rights, protections for employee...more

Littler

Rhode Island Bans “Captive Audience” Meetings

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On July 2, 2025, Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee signed into law House Bill No. 5506 SUB A.  With the stroke of a pen, Rhode Island joined the growing list of states to ban mandatory employer-sponsored meetings regarding...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

NLRA Preempts New Jersey Whistleblower and Antidiscrimination Law Claims, Federal Court Rules

In Davis v. Benihana, Inc., the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey dismissed the plaintiff-employee’s claims for retaliation under the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA) and New Jersey Law...more

Seward & Kissel LLP

Employment Litigation Roundup: June 2025

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In Miele v. Foundation Medicine, Inc., the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”) held that the Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act, G. L. c. 149, § 24L (the “Act”), which generally prohibits noncompete and...more

Littler

New York Legislature Proposes to Expand State Jurisdiction Amid Federal Uncertainty

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Amid growing concerns about the continued absence of a quorum at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the resulting inability of the NLRB to issue decisions in representation and unfair labor practice cases, the New...more

Littler

Puerto Rico Supreme Court: State Courts Lack Jurisdiction Over Labor Cases Governed by the NLRA

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The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico recently issued an important decision limiting the role of Puerto Rico’s courts in labor complaints that involve conduct governed by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). In Rodríguez...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

New York Bill Aiming to Protect Organized Labor Seeks to Overstep the Purpose and Scope of the NLRA and NLRB

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On Tuesday, June 17, 2025, the New York State Assembly overwhelmingly approved A8590 / S8034 by a vote of 128-14. This bill, which now heads to Governor Kathy Hochul’s desk, aims “[t]o make sure employees still receive...more

Ice Miller

Parades, Protests, and Politics: Managing Off-Duty Conduct in the Workplace

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As the nation prepares to celebrate the Fourth of July with parades, fireworks, and barbeques, many employers may find themselves faced with a challenging issue—how to manage employee conduct that occurs off the clock,...more

Oppenheimer Investigations Group

MAGA Hats and Pronoun Disputes Test Workplace Speech Boundaries

The line between protected political speech and workplace disruption depends largely on who signs your paycheck. Public employees enjoy First Amendment protections that private sector workers lack, but even government...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Workplace Recordings and Eavesdropping: Limiting Criminal and Legal Liabilities

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The ubiquity of smartphones and sensitive security cameras have made audio recording in the workplace more common. Some may be accidental, while other recordings may be intentional attempts document workplace conversations...more

Jackson Lewis P.C.

Puerto Rico High Court Confirms Employers Need to Check NLRA Preemption of Local Employment Law Claims

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The Puerto Rico Supreme Court has reaffirmed that Puerto Rico courts lack subject-matter jurisdiction over employment claims that arguably involve unfair labor practices covered by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). ...more

Tonkon Torp LLP

Employers: How to Navigate Four Common Conflicts to Minimize Litigation Risks

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After more than three decades providing employers legal counsel and litigation representation, I’ve seen (and helped prevent) a great deal of conflict at the workplace. What’s important for every employer to keep in mind is...more

Oppenheimer Investigations Group

Digital Danger: When Social Media Posts Can Trigger Workplace Investigations

Employers bear the responsibility of preventing and correcting harassment in the workplace. While the line between on and off duty conduct has never been crystal clear, in today’s hyper-connected world of social media, the...more

Hanson Bridgett

Is the Unionization of Uber and Lyft Drivers On California’s Horizon?

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On April 10, 2025, California legislators introduced Assembly Bill 1340, also known as the Transportation Network Company Drivers Labor Relations Act, which would afford drivers of app-based transportation companies such as...more

Foley & Lardner LLP

From the Pickup Line to the Picket Line: What Employers Need to Know About the Gig Economy Labor Movement

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The gig economy has emerged as a defining aspect of the modern workforce, transforming how people work, earn, and engage with employers. Unlike traditional full-time jobs, gig workers benefit from significant flexibility....more

Lerch, Early & Brewer

NLRB Finds Captive-Audience Meetings Unlawful

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In mid-November, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) overturned 75 years of precedent and found that captive-audience meetings violate the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) in its Amazon.com Services LLC decision....more

Perkins Coie

California Senate Bill 399: Captive Audience Law Challenged in Federal Lawsuit

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As of January 1, 2025, Senate Bill (SB) 399, the California Worker Freedom from Employment Intimidation Act (the Act), prohibits employers from subjecting or threatening to subject employees to discrimination, retaliation,...more

Proskauer - California Employment Law

Business Groups’ Lawsuit Slams California Ban on “Captive Audience” Meetings

As we reported here, California’s Senate Bill (S.B.) 399, took effect on January 1, 2025. This law prohibits employers from requiring employees to attend meetings about the company’s opinions on political or religious...more

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP

The intersection of partisan political speech and employee rights. Look both ways before crossing.

Considering the barrage of vitriolic campaign ads that invaded our homes on a nightly basis during the past year, you might think that political debate in America had reached a new low. Think again....more

Meyers Nave

Employment Law 2025 Legal Update

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STAY AHEAD OF 2025’s LEGAL CHANGES - Review your employee handbook and employment contracts for necessary updates on these changes to the law, effective January 1, 2025. Employer Captive Audience Meetings are Banned...more

CDF Labor Law LLP

Navigating Politics in the Workplace

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In a state as diverse and politically active as California, employers are bound to encounter clashing political expressions among employees this election cycle. Navigating these challenges and enforcing policies affecting the...more

Fisher Phillips

Illinois Joins Trend to Ban “Captive Audience” Meetings: 5 Steps Employers Can Take to Comply

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Illinois just became the latest state to ban employers from holding mandatory meetings with employees concerning religious or political matters, including discussions on union representation. Such employer-sponsored meetings,...more

Littler

Illinois Makes Move to Ban Employer-Sponsored Meetings

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For over 75 years, the National Labor Relations Board and courts (including the U.S. Supreme Court) have held the right of employees to make informed choices about unions is best served when employers share competing...more

Littler

Hawaii's New “Captive Audience” Law: What Employers Need to Know

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Under current federal law, employers may legally require workers to attend meetings during working hours that concern the employer’s views on politics, religion and similar matters. Hawaii recently joined several states,...more

Robinson+Cole Manufacturing Law Blog

2024 Election – Can It Be A Hot Topic In Your Workplace?

With the 2024 election fast approaching, and political news exploding, manufacturers are asking an important question: What is the role of political bobbleheads, pins, stickers, and discussions in the workplace?...more

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