State Employment Law Articles

On May 14, 2026, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger vetoed Senate Bill (SB) No. 378 / House Bill (HB) No. 1263, legislation that would have extended collective bargaining rights to the Commonwealth’s approximately 500,000 public employees.

California Courts Have Wide Latitude To Reduce PAGA Penalties and Fees

NLRB Advice Memoranda Signal a Major Shift for Employers—But California Employers Shouldn't Celebrate Too Soon

On June 30th, California’s Governor signed Assembly Bill (AB) 2155, which concerns the enforceability of written arbitration agreements in California. The bill amends Code of Civil Procedure Section 1281 and provides that any agreement unenforceable under the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) is also unenforceable under the California Arbitration Act (CAA). AB 2155 takes effect January 1, 2027. The legislation underscores the importance of regularly reviewing arbitration agreements to ensure they r…

On June 22, 2026, the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (MCCR) published its Elements of Proof Guidance , a comprehensive document setting forth the elements of proof that the MCCR applies for claims of employment discrimination, as well as other forms of discrimination, such as in housing and public accommodations, under Maryland State Government Article, Title 20.

During the January to May 2026 General Session, the Virginia General Assembly passed several important employment laws.

TakeawaysVirginia legislation taking effect July 1 imposes new requirements on “high-volume” arbitration service providers, including procedures for arbitrator selection, strict deadlines for payment of arbitration fees and grounds for challenging an arbitration award (among other penalties) if those requirements are not met.The requirements apply to arbitration agreements with Virginia-based employees. Employers in Virginia should review their arbitration agreements and provider rules to ensur…

Rhode Island lawmakers recently wrapped up a productive 2026 legislative session after approving several bills impacting employers—from legislation establishing warehouse worker protections to enactments expanding the state’s worker protection law to include domestic workers—and failing to advance noteworthy proposals that would have regulated employers’ use of artificial intelligence (AI) and electronic monitoring and prohibited workplace bullying. Here is a summary of the notable bills.

On June 15, 2026, the Colorado Supreme Court held that employees may bring wrongful termination claims if they are discharged for actions lawfully taken in self-defense—even if their employers’ policies prohibit confrontations—because the right to self-defense “is not left at the door simply because a person enters the workplace.”

On June 22, 2026, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed Executive Order No. 17 , “Protecting Workers From Extreme Heat,” directing a range of city agencies to develop heat illness prevention guidance, study heat-related health data, and strengthen protections for workers exposed to extreme heat. The order took effect immediately.

On June 24, 2026, the California Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement met and voted to pass Assembly Bill (AB) No. 2321 , a measure that would change case review procedures for the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) and its Bureau of Investigations (BOI) and create a five-year pilot program transferring investigative responsibilities from the BOI to the district attorneys of Alameda and Santa Clara counties. AB 2321 previously passed the Cal…

Goldberg Segalla is pleased to announce that partner Frank Ramos has been recognized in the 2026 Florida edition of Super Lawyers.

Vermont has passed Senate Bill 71, a comprehensive privacy law that will regulate how covered entities collect, use, disclose, sell, and protect personal data. The law is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2028. To whom does the law apply? The law applies to people who conduct business in Vermont or produce products or services targeted at Vermont residents and meet one of several thresholds during the preceding calendar year. A business may be covered if: It controls or processes the perso…

Virginia employers should keep in mind that significant employment law changes take effect July 1, 2026, including new pay transparency requirements for job postings and a ban on salary history inquiries. Read more about what employers need to know here.

On June 23, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Cocom rejected a plaintiff-appellee’s argument that an employment arbitration agreement was unconscionable. Because the agreement’s scope was limited to employment-related claims, rather than all potential claims, the court ruled it was not unconscionable. The court’s decision is a key win for employers and limits several recent California state court cases that had found arbitration agreements unenforceable due to their scope…

Effective July 1, 2026, Indiana’s FAIRNESS Act will bar employers in Indiana from knowingly or intentionally recruiting, hiring, or continuing to employ undocumented immigrants, with enforcement handled by the state attorney general.

Labor & Employment World Cup 2026: France and Massachusetts on Pay Transparency Kickoff: Getting to Know the France National Team The history of the French football team in the FIFA World Cup is defined by two unforgettable triumphs: its victories in 1998 and 2018, 20 years apart. A particularly striking connection links these two victories: the coach who led France to the 2018 championship captained the team that lifted the trophy in 1998. tgelbman@littler.com Mon, 06/29/2026 - 09:06

New York organizations using artificial intelligence should keep a close eye on two pending state bills that could create new notice and reporting obligations. Both bills have passed the Senate and Assembly, but as of June 25, 2026, neither appears to have been signed by the Governor. Still, they offer a clear signal that New York lawmakers are focused on transparency and workplace impact surrounding AI technologies. The first bill, AB 3411B, would amend the General Business Law to require noti…

In Moore v. Green’s Grocery, LLC , the Supreme Court of South Carolina affirmed the dismissal of a civil lawsuit against an employer after its employee fatally shot a customer during a workplace confrontation, a court decision that has significant implications for employers whose employees use force in the workplace.

New York City has taken a significant step toward regulating workplace heat exposure. On June 22, 2026, Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed an Executive Order (EO) directing city agencies to develop worker heat safety guidance, heat illness prevention plans, and recommendations for stronger construction-site protections. The EO does not immediately impose a broad private-sector heat standard, but it signals that heat illness prevention is becoming a formal workplace safety priority in New York City. Ke…