New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed two pieces of legislation aimed at combating workplace harassment, discrimination, and retaliation that impact private employers. The first bill, effective July 14, 2022, directs the New York State Division of Human Rights (NYSDHR) to establish and operate a toll free confidential hotline to provide counsel and assistance to individuals […]

Effective April 18, 2022, employers in New Jersey are required to provide a written notice to employees before using “electronic or mechanical devices” that are “designed or intended to be used for the sole purpose of tracking the movement of a vehicle, person, or device.” The notification requirement applies whether the vehicle is owned/leased by […]

Tennessee has expanded protections for employees who are subject to employer COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The new law prohibits employers from compelling or otherwise taking “adverse action” against an employee for not providing proof of vaccination if that person objects to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine “for any reason.” Unlike federal law, employers may not deny an […]

The City of San Francisco passed amendments to its existing Family Friendly Workplace Ordinance (FFWO), effective July 12, 2022, that will affect any employer with 20 or more employees either working in an office or telecommuting out of San Francisco. Among other changes is the part that allows employees to have flexible or predictable work […]

As the Omicron wave recedes, many states have announced changes to their face covering rules. Here are some key changes in California, Illinois, and New York as well as some points employers should consider before tossing masks aside in the workplace. Baker & McKenzie:The Employer Report Littler Insight:Facing Your Face Mask Duties – A List […]

The “Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021”, which the President Biden is expected to sign into law, amends the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) to prohibit employers from including mandatory arbitration clauses in pre-dispute arbitration agreements (i.e., contracts, employee handbooks, or offer letters) that apply to claims of sexual harassment […]

California employers with 26 or more employees are required to provide up to 80 hours of supplemental paid sick leave for qualifying COVID-19 related reasons. Although the law is similar to another bill, which expired on September 30, 2021, there are some significant differences. Morgan Lewis:Update: California Governor Signs SB 114 to Reinstate COVID-19 Supplemental […]

California requires employers with 100 or more employees to annually submit data on the pay, hours worked, and demographics of their employees to the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH). Pay data reports covering the 2021 Reporting Year are due by April 1, 2022. CA DFEH:・California Pay Data Reporting・Frequently Asked Questions

After months of confusion about whether to begin withholding premiums from employees’ paychecks on January 1, 2022, Governor Jay Inslee signed into law to delay the payroll tax until July 2023. The law requires employers to refund any premiums they have collected within 120 days of (a) the employer’s collection of the premiums from the […]

Following the United States Supreme Court’s ruling on January 13, 2022, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has withdrawn its enforcement of the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) requiring most employers to mandate COVID-19 vaccines or tests for employees.   The Court directed the Sixth Circuit to consider the substantive validity of the ETS. Enforcement of […]