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Free Speech State Labor Laws

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

Goldberg Segalla

Free Speech in the Workplace: Caution and Advice

Goldberg Segalla on

With any change in political climate, it is hard for employers to navigate the statements of employees, both during the workday and their off time. Employees who make their political positions public often point to the First...more

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

Mandatory Captive Rules in Limbo for California Employers – 2 Federal Lawsuits Challenge SB 399 and Looming Issue Before the NLRB

As discussed in our recent article, the introduction of SB 399 in California (approved and added as California Labor Code section 1137) sparked significant discussion and concern among California employers with union...more

Vedder Price

Recent Litigation in California Challenges New Captive Audience Meeting Bill

Vedder Price on

On December 31, 2024, the California Chamber of Commerce and California Restaurant Association (CRA) filed a complaint in federal court seeking to enjoin enforcement of Senate Bill (S.B.) 399, signed into law by Governor...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

Jackson Lewis P.C.

Showdown Over Workplace Speech – Litigation Filed to Enjoin SB 399 Prohibiting Mandatory Meetings During Union Organizing

Jackson Lewis P.C. on

On January 1, 2025, Senate (SB) Bill 399, officially went into effect in California. California joined other states, including Illinois, Connecticut, Hawaii, New York, and Oregon, in enacting statutes that prohibit “captive...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Imminent Employment Law Changes for Illinois Employers

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On January 1, 2025, employers in Illinois must be poised to comply with the looming changes to a host of existing and newly enacted employment laws. The changes reflect the state’s ongoing expansion of workers’ rights and...more

Laner Muchin, Ltd.

Legal Updates for Illinois Employers in 2025

Laner Muchin, Ltd. on

In 2025, Illinois will have several new laws and regulations going into effect. The following article summarizes many of these new laws. ...more

Fisher Phillips

All the New California Workplace Laws You Need to Know About For 2025

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Now that the California legislative session is essentially over and Governor Newsom has taken action to either approve or veto all the workplace law bills on his desk, employers can take stock on all the new laws that will...more

Fisher Phillips

California Bans “Captive Audience” Meetings: 5 Steps You Need to Take to Comply With New Law

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Governor Gavin Newsom just signed into law a bill on Friday that will soon ban employers from holding “captive audience” meetings – those employer-sponsored mandatory meetings that discuss religious or political matters,...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

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

Political Speech in the Workplace: Strategic Considerations for Employers

Political speech in the workplace has become a growing concern for employers in recent years. The polarized political climate, combined with the increasing use of social media and digital communication, has amplified the...more

White and Williams LLP

Talking Politics Can Lead to Employer Liability

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This episode of The Employment Law Counselor Hosted by Jeff Stewart in collaboration with the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS), features guest John Baker, Director of Labor Relations, Del Lago Resort and...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

Littler

Two Utah Laws Related to Religious Expression in the Workplace Take Effect

Littler on

The Utah legislature wrapped up its seven-week legislative session on March 1, 2024.  In addition to passing a #MeToo-inspired law prohibiting confidentiality clauses regarding sexual misconduct, the legislature also passed...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

It’s An Election Year: Understanding Restrictions on Employer Actions Regarding Employee Political Activity

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Seyfarth Synopsis:  In six months, the U.S. presidential election will take place and inevitably employee views on the elections and election issues will make their way into the workplace.  In yesterday’s highly polarized...more

Littler

New York District Court Enjoins Enforcement of Law Limiting Employer Speech During Organizing Campaigns

Littler on

A federal judge in New York recently cast doubt on the validity of state laws that seek to restrict employer speech in connection with union organizing. In New York State Vegetable Growers Association, Inc. v. Letitia James,...more

Verrill

Maine Captive Audience Statute Requirements

Verrill on

For employers operating in New England, they are likely aware of Connecticut and New York’s recent captive audience statutes, but a quick re-cap on Maine’s recently enacted Captive Audience statute: Maine’s Captive...more

Fisher Phillips

New York, Minnesota, and Maine Ban “Captive Audience Meetings” – But the Fight is Just Beginning

Fisher Phillips on

Effective August 1, Minnesota now prohibits employers from “captive audience meetings” – that is, requiring, under threat of discharge, discipline, or some other penalty, employee attendance or participation in...more

Pullman & Comley - Labor, Employment and...

Connecticut General Statutes § 31-51q at 40: Emerging Questions for Connecticut’s Employee Free Speech Statute

THE NEW YEAR, 2023, MARKS THE 40TH anniversary of the initial passage of Connecticut General Statutes § 31-51q. Connecticut’s employee free speech protection statute, Section 31-51q, broadly protects both public and...more

Littler

Ones to Watch: Legislation Landscape for 2023

Littler on

Three months into the new legislative year, with all but a handful of state legislatures currently in session, clear employment law trends for 2023 have emerged. Some of the more significant trends reflect the country’s...more

Harris Beach Murtha PLLC

[Webinar] 2022 Annual Labor & Employment Update - December 9th, 9:00 am - 4:10 pm ET

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On December 9, our Labor and Employment Group will present its annual full-day webinar on updates and developments in labor and employment law. Topics to be discussed include state legislative updates, conduct and behavior...more

Robinson & Cole LLP

2022 Labor and Employment Tri-State Legislative Update: CT, MA, and RI

Robinson & Cole LLP on

As employers actively work to prepare for 2023, taking note of employment-related legislative activity is key. Following robust 2022 legislative sessions in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, employers have a number...more

Bowditch & Dewey

Federal Court Partially Blocks Florida from Enforcing ‘Stop WOKE Act’ – What This Means for Employers

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On August 18, 2022, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida partially enjoined Florida’s Individual Freedom Act (“IFA”), also known as the Stop Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees (WOKE) Act. The law, which...more

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