State Employment Law Articles

TakeawaysPhiladelphia has amended its Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards ordinance, with changes going into effect 01.06.26.Among other changes, employers will only be able to consider misdemeanors convictions from the past four years (reduced from seven years) during the hiring or employee ma

The U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey ruled that a claim by a remote employee in New Jersey over her Pennsylvania employer’s attempt to end her remote work arrangement, which allowed her to work from home in New Jersey, belongs in federal court in Pennsylvania. The court

TakeawaysThe Puerto Rico Christmas Bonus is a local tradition that comes with significant statutory requirements for employers.There are two tiers of employee eligibility and bonus amount depending on employee hire date and employer headcount.Employer profitability-related exemptions may apply, as d

On July 1, 2024, California’s workplace violence prevention law —the nation’s strongest and broadest workplace violence prevention statute for general industry—took effect, with the requirement that the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health adopt a standard setting forth the employer

TakeawaysFrom the Illinois Human Rights Act to the Workplace Transparency Act, the state has announced a broad range of measures affecting workplace policies and compliance obligations.Other new laws impacting employers include the Warehouse Tornado Preparedness Act and the Family Neonatal Intensive

New York State lawmakers recently passed a bill to prohibit employers from requiring workers to repay certain costs if they leave their jobs. The bill has not been signed or vetoed by Governor Kathy Hochul yet.

New York Imposes Additional Requirements on Public Bidders Regarding Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace As part of its ongoing efforts to address violence in the workplace, the New York State Legislature recently enacted State Finance Law (SFL) §139-m . tgelbman@littler.com Mon, 11/10/2025 - 12

New York City Commission on Human Rights 2025 Annual Report Reveals Operational Priorities The New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL) is one of the broadest and most comprehensive civil rights laws in the world. The NYCHRL prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations a

Scott Green was quoted in a Law360 article discussing the potential impact of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s campaign pledge to increase funding for the NYC Commission on Human Rights.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has passed a new Hotel Worker Protection Ordinance for unincorporated areas of the county. Similar to the City of Los Angeles and West Hollywood ordinances, the ordinance sets forth additional obligations for hotel employers to enhance the safety of employ

State Minimum Wage On January 1, 2026, California’s minimum wage will increase from $16.50 to $16.90 per hour. Local Minimum Wage Also on January 1, 2026, several local municipalities will increase their minimum wage rates. Local jurisdictions are allowed to set the minimum wage higher than the stat

Columbus, Ohio Prohibits Salary History Inquiry and Requires Pay Transparency On November 4, 2025, Mayor Andrew Ginther signed into law a new bill that will prohibit employers employing 15 or more people within the City of Columbus from inquiring about a job applicant’s salary history, and will requ

Rochester, NY Expands Protections for Immigrants, Reproductive Autonomy, and the LGBTQIA+ Community On August 26, 2025, the Rochester City Council voted unanimously to strengthen the city’s long-standing sanctuary city policy, adopting Ordinance No. 2025-283 . The measure, formally adopted on August

New York Mandatory Employee Retirement Program to be Implemented After Years of Delays After considerable delay, employer registration for the New York State Secure Choice Savings Program (“New York Secure Choice” or “the Program”) is now open. tgelbman@littler.com Thu, 11/06/2025 - 12:35

Takeaways

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) No. 464 into law on October 13, 2025, making significant changes as of January 1, 2026, to the state’s pay data reporting requirements. These changes will increase the pressure on covered employers and labor contractors to complete the annual

With employee political speech becoming an increasing concern, employers in New York are reminded of the New York Legal Activities Law, which, among other things, offers protections to employees based on certain off-duty speech related to political matters.

Last year, the Appellate Division of the Massachusetts District Court held in Nunez v. Syncsort Incorporated —a decision that we addressed in an article published on October 28, 2024—that retention bonuses do not constitute “wages” within the meaning of the Massachusetts Wage Act. On October 22, 202

New York City Amends Sick Time Law to Require New Unpaid Leave and Permit New Covered Uses On October 25, 2025, New York City amended its Earned Safe and Sick Time Act (ESSTA), radically expanding the law and the benefits it provides to employees. Importantly, effective February 22, 2026: tgelbman@l

With employee political speech becoming an increasing concern, employers in New York are reminded of the New York Legal Activities Law, which, among other things, offers protections to employees based on certain off-duty speech related to political or religious matters.