State Employment Law Articles

On January 3, 2026, the New York City Council enacted legislation ( Int. No. 1384-2025 ) amending Local Law 126 of 2021, which regulates the city’s site safety training (SST) requirements. The new amendment mandates new training on mental health awareness, alcohol and substance misuse, and suicide r

New Jersey’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) has changed how employers must provide employee separation–related information. This update explains what has changed operationally and what employers can do now to remain compliant and avoid delays or penalties in the unemployment p

Certain organizations in Florida that work with children and vulnerable adults must link to the Agency for Health Care Administration’s (AHCA) new background checks resource in their job postings for any position that requires a screening through Florida’s Care Provider Background Screening Clearing

The California Department of Labor Standards Enforcement recently released a revised Healthy Workplaces/Healthy Families Act (HWHFA) poster reflecting recent amendments to the state paid sick leave law. California employers must promptly update their workplace postings. Our California colleagues off

Beginning on January 1, 2026, California employers are subject to sweeping new limits on the repayment obligations they can impose on workers. Assembly Bill 692 restricts so-called “stay-or-pay” provisions that require employees to repay money

In this episode, Jen explains what information employers must include in the new “Know Your Rights” notice and why it may not be the best approach to use the DIR’s template version without tailoring it first.

On January 7, 2026, the California Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board (Appeals Board or OSHAB) convened in Sacramento, California, for a stakeholders’ roundtable discussion to gather ideas for enhancing and improving Board processes and procedures. The meeting was attended by OSHAB members

NYSDOL Issues Guidance on Healthy Terminals Act Amendments Effective January 1, 2026 In September, we published an article outlining amendments to New York’s Healthy Terminals Act (HTA). The amended HTA revises certain wage, health and welfare, and leave entitlements for covered workers at JFK and L

Massachusetts employers with 100 or more employees should prepare now for the next round of state pay reporting, as the deadline is quickly approaching. This year, the reports are due by February 2, 2026, as the normal February 1 deadline falls on a weekend and is extended to the next business day.

Pay equity is getting a major upgrade in 2026. SB 642 redefines “wages,” extends protections to non-binary employees, and tightens job-posting rules. Jen...

“Stay-or-pay” agreements — where employees must repay training or bonuses if they leave — are now off-limits in California (with narrow exceptions). Jen...

California employers must promptly update their workplace postings because the Department of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) recently released a revised Healthy Workplaces/Healthy Families Act (HWHFA) poster reflecting recent amendments to the state paid sick leave. In 2024, California passed a b

The month of January takes its name from Janus, the Roman god with two faces looking in opposite directions, symbolizing transition and conflict. For Washington State employers, there is no better representation of this year’s polarity between federal deregulation and state-level reforms, as well as

New York Legislature Introduces Chapter Amendment to Trapped at Work Act As previously covered , the New York Legislature voted in favor of the Trapped at Work Act in July 2025. As passed by the New York Legislature, the Trapped at Work Act would broadly prohibit use of promissory notes that

A new year brings new compliance risks for California employers. In this episode, Jen breaks down the must-know employment law updates and practical steps employers should take right now to start the year protected - and avoid costly mistakes.

California lawmakers continue to expand employee protections while increasing compliance obligations for employers.

California’s penalties for rest-break violations are steep. California employers that fail to provide compliant breaks face multiple layers of exposure, including one additional hour of pay at the employee’s regular rate of pay for each workday a compliant rest or recovery period was not provided, a

The Labor Commissioner has published a model Workplace “Know Your Rights” Notice pursuant to Senate Bill 294 (SB 294), also known as the Workplace Know Your Rights Act. This Act introduces annual notice requirements and new rules related to employee arrests or detentions. Beginning February 1, 2026,

Under the new California “ Workplace Know Your Rights Act ” (Senate Bill (SB) 294), employers must provide a new notice to employees by February 1, 2026. Lawmakers drafted the legislation to ensure that employers inform their employees about labor protections, immigration-related rights, and workpla