State Employment Law Articles

In May 2021, Santa Clara County implemented some unique requirements on employers in the County with respect to gathering information on the vaccination status of employees. On June 21, 2021, the Health Officer of the County of Santa Clara issued Santa Clara County’s June 21, 2021 Health Order phasi

After conducting an analysis of the Suffolk County Human Rights Law (“HRL”) as it pertains to housing discrimination, the Suffolk County Fair Housing Task Force (“Task Force”) released its final report and recommendations to lawmakers in its continued efforts to combat housing discrimination.

On June 10, 2021, the First Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal of a plaintiff’s lawsuit alleging, among other things, failure to pay wages under the Massachusetts Wage Act. In Rose v. RTN Federal Credit Union , the First Circuit held that the Labor Management Relations Act (LMRA) preempte

In May 2011, Georgia’s Restrictive Covenant Act (OCGA 13-8-50 et seq.) (“RCA”) became effective and applied to all agreements executed on or after May 11, 2011.

Arizona recently expanded provisions of the Arizona Civil Rights Act (ACRA) to cover pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions. Additionally, following a national trend in response to perceived state and federal inaction, cities in Arizona on their own passed new ordinances that expands protected c

Over the last two years, Colorado enacted some significant employment laws, including the Healthy Families & Workplaces Act and Equal Pay for Equal Work Act . Colorado’s 2021 legislative session ended on June 12, 2021.

After nearly a decade of litigation, in Godrey v. State of Iowa et al , Case No. 19-1954 (June 30, 2021), the Iowa Supreme Court reversed a jury verdict granting $1.5 million in damages and $3.1 million in attorneys’ fees to the former Iowa Workers’ Compensation Commissioner, based on his

On June 25, 2021, the Chicago City Council passed Ordinance No. O2021-2182 (the “Ordinance”), part of Mayor Lightfoot’s Chi Biz Strong Initiative. The Ordinance, which takes effect August 1, 2021, creates new wage theft protections and expands the covered reasons for use of paid sick leave.

Effective June 30, 2021, Oregon Governor Kate Brown, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), and the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) lifted most statewide mask and physical distancing restrictions related to COVID-19, with limited exceptions. Mask requirements remain in place

Arbitration agreements are intended to expedite the legal process while minimizing fees and costs. In reality, former employees and their counsel often resist submitting their employment claims to arbitration, resulting in protracted and expensive litigation before trial and appellate courts on the

Effective September 1, 2021, any employer that employs “one or more employees” or that “acts directly in the interests of an employer in relation to an employee” will be considered an employer under Texas law and subject to a heightened level of scrutiny for sexual harassment claims under Texas law.

Louisiana has become the first state with a Democratic governor to pass a law eliminating the $300 per week supplemental unemployment benefit created by the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). Under the new measure, Act No. 276, which Governor John Bel Edwards signed into law on June

On June 25, 2021, Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed Executive Order No. 21-15 (the “Recovery Order”), lifting the vast majority of Oregon’s COVID-19 restrictions as of Wednesday, June 30, 2021. The Recovery Order eliminates the statewide mask mandate, as well as requirements for physical distancing

By: California Employers Should Prepare for July 1 Minimum Wage Increases In Certain Cities and Counties The current minimum wage is $14 per hour in California for all employers with 26 or more employees. For employers who have less than 26 employees, the state minimum wage is $13 per hour. Californ

Colorado’s Equal Pay for Equal Work Act went into effect on January 1, 2021. The act creates significant compliance burdens for employers with even one employee in Colorado. In fact, the act is the only law in the United States to require employers to (1) post compensation and benefits information

Consistent with legislative trends, Virginia weighed in further on the nationwide marijuana debate by enacting two new comprehensive cannabis-related laws.

At the conclusion of the Nevada Legislature’s 81 st Session, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak signed several bills into law affecting every point of the employer-employee relationship, from application to termination.

On June 22, 2021, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed legislation (S.1168-A / A.108-B) requiring the establishment of clinical staffing committees in general hospitals. The staffing committees will be composed of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, ancillary staff members who provide direct pa

On June 24, 2021, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti revised his

By: SCOTUS Decides Two Cases with Labor and Employment Law Implications The United States Supreme Court recently issued two decisions related to California labor and employment law. In one decision, the Court held that a California regulation allowing labor organizers a right to access workplaces wa