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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced that it extended the grace period for states and employers to report tax information about benefits paid through a state’s paid family and medical leave program. For 2026, states and employers will not have to comply with tax and income reporting obligations related to those benefits. The grace […]
On December 23, 2025, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it finalized its proposal to overhaul how US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) selects H-1B registrations for H-1B cap-subject petitions. The final rule replaces the random selection with a weighted, wage-level based selection, effective February 27, 2026. The new rule prioritizes higher-paid foreign […]
The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a press release announcing a new one-page technical assistance “Fact Sheet” regarding national origin discrimination. The EEOC also updated its national origin discrimination guidance page, which provides information about “what national origin discrimination can look like in the workplace” and how employees may obtain EEOC assistance if […]
New York State enacted the Trapped at Work Act on December 19, 2025, which amended the New York Labor Law to limit an employer’s ability to enter into an “employment promissory note” with its workers. Effective immediately, New York employers are barred from utilizing certain “stay or pay” contracts with workers. An “employment promissory note” is defined […]
California law already provides current or past employees (or their representative) the right to inspect and receive a copy of personnel records relating to their job performance or any grievances, if their employer maintains them. Effective January 1, 2026, the new requirement expands the state labor code’s definition of “personnel records” to include education and […]
As the calendar turns to 2026, employers across the country face a fresh wave of labor and employment law changes that will reshape workplace compliance, employee rights, and business operations. From expanded protections for gig workers and whistleblowers to new rules governing employment contracts, data privacy, and workplace transparency, this year’s legislative updates reflect a […]
Many states and localities are set to increase their minimum wages on January 1, 2026. In California, Colorado, Maine, New York and Washington, the minimum salary required to be classified as exempt from overtime is tied to the minimum wage or is otherwise adjusted annually with the minimum wage and therefore will also increase on […]
On November 21, 2025, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the US Department of the Treasury released guidance outlining how workers can calculate their tax deduction for tips and overtime pay for the 2025 tax year when their employer does not separately report the information. The guidance provides specific examples of how a tax deduction […]
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced that the amount individuals can contribute to their 401(k) plans in 2026 has increased to $24,500, up from $23,500 for 2025. The IRS also issued technical guidance regarding all cost‑of‑living adjustments affecting dollar limitations for pension plans and other retirement-related items for tax year 2026. IRS:401(k) limit increases to $24,500 […]
The US Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division issued a new opinion letter on Sept. 30, 2025, explaining that employers should calculate FMLA leave hours based on an employee’s actual, normally scheduled workweek — which includes any mandatory overtime hours and excludes any additional voluntary hours. The DOL’s guidance is helpful for all employers faced […]