#WorkforceWednesday: New AB5 Exemptions, EEOC COVID-19 Updates, Joint-Employer Rule Partially Struck Down - Employment Law This Week®
Episode 13: NYC's New Freelancer Protection Law And The Future Of The On-Demand Economy
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Industry (the Department) announced on April 28, 2025, that it was filing a notice of a proposed regulation addressing the test for independent contractor (IC) status under New Jersey...more
The European Union took a big step last year towards regulating digital labor platforms – and member states will need to adopt the new directive before the end of 2026. The directive seeks to curb worker misclassification,...more
Welcome to our blog series about new California employment laws affecting a wide range of businesses and employers. California already presents one of the most difficult legal landscapes for employers, and with several new...more
Every new year brings changes to the employment laws applicable to New York State and New York City employers. In this article, we review the key employment laws that went into effect in 2024 and highlight some of the new and...more
In the spirit of the season, we are using our annual "12 Days of California Labor and Employment" blog series to address new California laws and their impact on employers. On the fifth day of the holidays, my labor and...more
The first-ever law protecting freelancers and independent contractors in Japan came into effect on November 1, requiring businesses that do work in the country to review their workplace practices and adjust as necessary. The...more
Following other states and cities across the nation, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 988, the Freelance Worker Protection Act (FWPA), into law on September 28, 2024. This new law aims to provide greater...more
On September 30, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 988 into law. The new state law, known as the Freelance Worker Protection Act (“FWPA”), goes into effect on January 1, 2025. The FWPA provides various protections to...more
On August 28, 2024, New York State’s Freelance Isn’t Free Law (“FIFL”) took effect, extending protections to freelance workers statewide. This sweeping law is codified in a new Article 44-A to New York State’s General...more
California just enacted a new law further expanding protections for freelance workers. Beginning in 2025, private employers who hire certain independent contractors will be required to provide a written agreement specifying...more
Originally effective in New York City from May 15, 2017, the New York Freelance Isn’t Free Act will now expand its protections to freelance workers across the entire state, effective August 28, 2024. This updated legislation...more
Q: Is New York City considering a total ban on noncompete agreements? A: Yes — a total ban on noncompete agreements would be the result of one of the three noncompete bills currently pending in the New York City Council,...more
On November 21, 2023, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed Senate Bill S5026 into law, enacting the “Freelance Isn’t Free Act” (“the Act”). The Act provides that freelance workers or solo independent contractors (referred to...more
Governor Kathy Hochul recently signed into law the “Freelance Isn’t Free” Act (the Act), which aims to provide freelance workers certain protections across the state. New York employers who use freelancers or independent...more
There is a general trend in the country to narrow the scope of who can be an independent contractor and to provide such individuals more “rights” concerning their employment, or engagement. More States are passing laws...more
Illinois has enacted broad protections for freelance workers. The Freelance Worker Protection Act (FWPA) requires entities contracting with freelance workers to provide written contracts and timely compensation and authorizes...more
On July 1, 2023, the City of Los Angeles Freelance Worker Protections Ordinance went into effect. The ordinance sets forth certain requirements for hiring entities retaining freelance workers operating within the City of Los...more
A new city ordinance in Los Angeles will take effect on July 1, 2023, which requires a written contract for many independent contractors and freelance workers who work in the city. This ordinance, known as the Freelance...more
As the New York State legislative session came to a close, state lawmakers passed a flurry of laws providing protections to workers, ranging from wage protections for freelance workers, prohibitions against absence control...more
Tips for automating and streamlining the management of your freelance workers, contractors, and temporary employees - With a rapidly-growing freelance workforce, the current state of the job market, and generous...more
The growth of freelance work has exploded in recent years and shows no signs of stopping. Effective January 1, 2021, a new ordinance that could have a significant impact on independent contractors and the companies with...more
2019 brought a number of important changes in the law that warrant the attention of New York employers. Start off the new year right and ensure your calendars are up to date by including the 2020 effective dates of these New...more
Seyfarth Synopsis. On Thursday, September 5, 2019, the Legislature passed AB 51. This bill would ban mandatory arbitration agreements with respect to claims under the Labor Code and the Fair Employment and Housing Act while...more
The “ABC test” recently adopted by the California Supreme Court in the Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court case is now touted as the best way to make the distinction between an “exploited employee” and an...more
A delivery driver for gig economy company DoorDash has been ordered by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to take his misclassification case to a private arbitrator instead of court pursuant to a valid arbitration agreement he...more