State Employment Law Articles

Washington’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) is moving to make changes to its excavation, trenching, and shoring standard, and they want to hear from employers. On February 10-12, 2026, Washington’s State Department of Labor & Industries will hold public hearings on DOSH’s proposal

New York City has enacted two major pay data reporting laws that require large private employers (200+ NYC employees) to submit annual, detailed compensation reports.

Maine’s paid family and medical leave (PFML) program will begin paying benefits on May 1, 2026. Employers with at least one employee in Maine began making contributions to the PFML fund in January 2025 through employee payroll deductions and employer contributions. On January 20, 2026, the Maine Pai

California’s “Workplace Know Your Rights Act,” SB 294, introduces significant new requirements for California employers beginning Feb. 1, 2026, with important implications for immigration‑related enforcement and employee rights. The law is intended to ensure that all employees, including immigrant w

On January 11, 2026, Maine enacted a law (House Paper (H.P.) 25 / Legislative Document (L.D.) 61) prohibiting employers from using surveillance tools without first informing job applicants and employees. The new law, which took effect immediately, is part of a growing trend of states restricting emp

New Jersey Dramatically Expands Job-Protected Family Leave and Benefits On July 17, 2026, amendments to the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA) and the laws administering New Jersey Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) and Family Leave Insurance (FLI) benefits will take effect, expanding employer an

The Governor of Puerto Rico declared a public health emergency due to high levels of influenza triggering an additional five days of paid sick leave for certain employees. Read more from our Puerto Rico colleagues here. Continue Reading

Takeaways

Puerto Rico Governor Declares a State of Emergency Due to Influenza Epidemic, Activating Five-Day Paid Leave Following the declaration of an influenza virus epidemic by the Puerto Rico Department of Health, Governor Jenniffer González issued Executive Order 2026-005, declaring a State of Emergency t

Takeaways

New Case to Test Whether California Charter Schools Are Subject to PERB or NLRB Jurisdiction?

Employers that discriminate against employees and applicants based on their language may violate the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) if the discrimination is tied to one or more protected characteristics, such as national origin, ancestry, nationality, race, religion, or disability, the

\\\\t The Puerto Rico Supreme Court found that the Women’s Advocate Office (OPM) has the authority to investigate and fine public and private employers for violations of women’s rights under Puerto Rico constitution and laws, including employment laws.

A blend of evolving judicial interpretation, aggressive plaintiffs’ counsel, and decades-old statutory language has brought new life to the Florida Security of Communications Act (FSCA) as a vehicle for challenging commonplace website technologies. At its core, the FSCA was enactedto protect privacy

New York Governor Proposes “No Tax on Tips” Legislation New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced a proposal to eliminate state income taxes on a portion of tipped income, signaling a significant policy development with meaningful implications for New York employers, particularly those in th

Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) operating in New Jersey should be aware that S2357 was signed into law in November 2022 as P.L. 2022, c. 120 (the Act).

On January 17, 2026, in one of his final acts as governor, Phil Murphy signed into law a bill ( A3451 / S2950 ) that will greatly expand the reach and protections of the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA). When the amendments take effect in six months, thousands of currently exempt small employers

Ahead of the May 13, 2026, filing deadline, the California Civil Rights Department has released preliminary templates and updated FAQs for the 2025 pay data reporting cycle. Although these simplified templates may still be revised, they highlight new mandatory data fields, including exemption status

Unless exempt, California employers must post their annual summary of work-related injuries and illnesses in a visible and easily accessible location at each worksite from February 1 through April 30, 2026. Employers must use Cal/OSHA Form 300A for this posting. Cal/OSHA provides guidance on how to

The second year of Massachusetts pay reporting officially called the EEO Wage and Workforce Data Reports has begun for covered EEO-1 filers with all reports due by February 2, 2026.