State Employment Law Articles

California’s healthcare minimum wage will finally take effect on October 16. Under last year’s SB 525, the minimum wage was increased for almost all healthcare workers. Due to budgetary concerns, the law’s implementation was delayed.

Although the temperature still feels like summer, one thing does feel like fall – Governor Newsom just finished his review of the pending employment-related bills. Below is a brief summary of the key laws affecting

By: New Minimum Wage for California Health Care Workers Takes Effect October 16, 2024 A minimum wage increase for health care workers in California will kick in on October 16, 2024. The change was originally slated to take effect this past June, after California enacted Senate Bill (“SB”) 525 in the

On September 29, 2024, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill (AB) No. 2499, a measure that provides leave protections for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other crimes, as well as protections for employees performing jury duty or taking time off fro

The deluge of candidate introduction postcards and special interest group mailers urging us to vote “Yes!” or “No!” on particular issues that flood our

Governor Newsom recently signed two significant bills focused on protecting digital likeness rights: Assembly Bill (AB)1836 and Assembly Bill (AB) 2602.

An appellate court in Washington state recently held a hospital liable to pay employees who worked through meal period breaks for their time worked plus compensation for an additional break as a penalty, highlighting Washington employers’ obligations to ensure employees take breaks from work during

On September 26, 2024, the New Jersey Legislature passed Senate Bill 2310 (S2310), which will require transparency about compensation and benefits in internal and external postings of promotion opportunities, job listings, and transfer opportunities. If, as expected, Governor Phil Murphy signs the b

The Massachusetts legislature has expanded the reasons employees can use Massachusetts Earned Sick Time through provisions in a larger bill entitled, “An Act Promoting Access to Midwifery Care and Out-of-Hospital Birth Options.” Employees may now use Massachusetts Earned Sick Time to “address the em

The Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (Department) just announced the 2025 weekly benefit amount and contribution rates for both employers and employees under the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave benefit program, which is funded through a payroll tax.

Last fall, California enacted Senate Bill 525 , which substantially raises the base minimum wage for health care workers over time to $25 per hour. The first incremental increase above the general state minimum wage was scheduled to occur on June 1, 2024. However, there were several delays and amend

On September 24, 2024, the Pittsburgh City Council passed a new ordinance prohibiting discrimination against an individual’s status as a medical marijuana patient. Mayor Ed Gainey signed the ordinance the same day, making it effective immediately.

The Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave has announced changes to the employer contribution rates and benefit amounts under the Paid

With Election Day approaching, here is a timely reminder for employers in Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota regarding their obligations under these states’ laws to excuse employees from work to go to the polls. With many voters opting to vote early or by mail, the number of voters

By: Captive Audience Meetings Now Banned By State Law in California Last Friday, Governor Newsom signed SB 399 – The California Worker Freedom from Employer Intimidation Act into law. SB 399, which will take effect on January 1, 2025, prohibits private and public employers in California from subject

By: Navigating Politics in the Workplace In a state as diverse and politically active as California, employers are bound to encounter clashing political expressions among employees this election cycle. Navigating these challenges and enforcing policies affecting the expression of employees’ politica

By: California Court of Appeal Upholds Adverse Employment Action Where Employee Unable to Perform Essential Job Functions This month, the California Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court’s grant of summary adjudication to the employer in a disability discrimination case alleging violations of the

By: 2024 PAGA Reforms – Has the Landscape Changed? The Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), enacted in 2004, upturned California’s employment law landscape. In theory, PAGA allowed employees to file lawsuits to recover civil penalties

On September 27, 2024, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law legislation that will enhance current healthcare safety regulations by requiring hospitals to implement weapons detection screening and personnel education and training policies in 2027.

Maryland’s Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) Division of Labor and Industry recently announced its publication of the Heat Illness Prevention Standard as a final regulation in the September 20, 2024, edition of the Maryland Register. Effective September 30, 2024, the final regulation—which creat