HR - General

Ones To Watch: Legislation Landscape for 2026 Ones To Watch is back with Littler’s fourth annual forecast of the year’s trendiest topics in federal and state labor and employment-related legislation. Three months into the year, with all but a handful of state legislatures currently in session, sever

Littler Lightbulb – February 2026 Employment Appellate Roundup Fifth Circuit Holds Plaintiff Not Entitled to Overtime Unless Company Had Actual or Constructive Knowledge of Time Worked Following a jury verdict finding the plaintiff in Merritt v. Tex. Farm Bureau , __F.4th __ (5th Cir. Feb. 6, 2026)

As the crisis in the Middle East continues to unfold, employers face urgent questions about their obligations to employees who are stranded abroad, unable to travel to work, or seeking to work remotely from affected regions. The situation raises complex legal and practical considerations that requir

Policy Week in Review – March 6, 2026 Littler WPI Releases Survey Report on 2025’s Regulatory and Economic Changes on Employers tgelbman@littler.com Fri, 03/06/2026 - 14:05

Milan–Cortina 2026: The Employment Law Behind the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games Italy will host the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo starting February 6, 2026, bringing global attention back to the country for one of the most prominent international sporting e

Most employment cases don’t start with a complaint — they start with culture. In this episode, Jen and Joe Beachboard dig into the foundational elements that determine whether an organization stays out of court: workplace culture, clear policies and procedures, consistent enforcement mechanisms, and

Most employment lawsuits don’t start with a policy — they start with a manager’s off-the-cuff decision. In this episode, Jen discusses how well-intentioned leaders unknowingly create legal risk through inconsistency, over-sharing, and poor documentation. This is a practical conversation for HR pros

From multiple proposed bills to reduce unemployment among military spouses and new changes to service member worker protections, employers can anticipate a busy 2026 for developments affecting military servicemembers, veterans, and their families. Here are four areas for employers to watch.

Organisations worldwide are increasingly facing cybersecurity threats capable of causing significant operational disruption. Recently, organisations have been targeted with “sleeping malware,” a dormant, or “sleeping,” implant embedded in an organisation’s systems that remains there undetected, some

Littler Workplace Policy Institute® Survey Report 2026 The first year of the second Trump administration was something of a roller coaster for employers, as rapid-fire policy shifts created persistent volatility for businesses of all shapes and sizes. From new immigration policies and diversity, equ

Dear Littler: How do we avoid getting trapped by trapped at work laws? Dear Littler : I’m hearing all this chatter about employees being “trapped” at work and I don’t understand it. We are a multistate employer that provides relocation benefits and sign-on bonuses to new hires. We also pay for

In this episode, Joe Beachboard and Jen dig into the top 10 takeaways from the EmployersLawyer webinar, Confidential California Employer Update: New Laws and Key Cases for 2026—and what they actually mean for California employers.

Whether you’re new to public sector employment law or ready to sharpen your expertise, this two-day, hands-on workshop delivers the insight and confidence you need to lead effectively in today’s complex government workplace.

Don’t miss our 27th Annual Employment Law Update—a must for California employers! Join Jen Shaw for a comprehensive review of the latest regulations, court decisions, and legal developments shaping workplaces in 2027. This year’s session will cover essential topics including wage and hour compliance

Many companies have been reconsidering their work-from-home policies in the years since the COVID-19 pandemic forced office closures. While reversing these policies may be straightforward in the United States, the process is far more complex internationally. Understanding international employment la

News out of Minneapolis has reignited intense workplace conversations across the country — including in California. In this episode, Jen explains what California employers should and shouldn’t do when national events spark heated discussions at work, and how to manage free expression, safety, and ha

Littler Lightbulb – January 2026 Appellate Roundup Ninth Circuit Reverses District Court and Finds Production Company Not Liable Under the Multiemployer Pension Plan Amendments Act tgelbman@littler.com Wed, 02/11/2026 - 09:18

On January 30, 2026, the Appellate Court of Illinois affirmed summary judgment in Salinas v. Arthur Schuman Midwest, LLC , in favor of staffing agencies accused of Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) violations, holding that the agencies did not “collect, capture, or otherwise obtain” biometric

Dear Littler: Are there any concerns about letting our employees post videos about our products? Dear Littler, I’m a marketing manager at a nationwide retailer. One of our sales associates is an aspiring “influencer” who asked if she could film a short video showcasing our new products for social me

On January 22, 2026, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued policy guidance indicating that it will administer its 8(a) business development program on a strictly neutral basis going forward. The guidance reflects a significant change in how the agency interprets and applies the statuto