State Employment Law Articles

A federal judge in the Northern District of Illinois vacated a $228 million damages award issued following the first-ever jury verdict in an Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (Privacy Act or BIPA) class action and ordered a new trial on the issue of damages. However, in doing so, the judge

The California Supreme Court held that when a court compels an employee to arbitrate their “individual” Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) claims, the employee retains statutory standing to pursue “non-individual” PAGA claims on behalf of other allegedly aggrieved employees in court. Ad

The California Supreme Court has now issued its long-awaited ruling in Adolph v. Uber Technologies, Inc. (Read the full opinion here .) We previously posted about the significance of this anticipated ruling here and here .

The California Supreme Court determined that plaintiffs seeking civil penalties under California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) retain standing to pursue representative PAGA claims on behalf of other alleged aggrieved employees in court despite being bound to arbitrate their individual PAGA

The Supreme Court of California recently held that the California Workers’ Compensation Act does not bar an employee’s spouse from bringing a negligence claim against the employer where the employee contracts COVID-19 at the workplace and brings the virus home to the employee’s spouse. The court als

Florida’s Senate Bill (SB) 1718 went into effect on July 1, 2023. One section of the new law—which criminalized the transport into the State of Florida of individuals who entered the United States without inspection—now faces a legal challenge.

In a decision providing guidance to employers facing requests for health-related accommodations, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals held in Wingra Redi-Mix Inc. v. Labor and Industry Review Commission that a formal diagnosis at the time of an employee’s request for accommodation is not required to raise

The California Supreme Court held last week that a California employer does not owe a duty of care to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to members of an employee’s household. In a unanimous decision, Kuciemba v. Victory Woodworks, Inc., the Court held that although claims brought by an employee’s famil

By: Newsom Revives the California Industrial Welfare Commission After Almost 20 Years By: Newsom Revives the California Industrial Welfare Commission After Almost 20 Years On July 10, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 102 into law (“AB 102”). This is the first time in almost 20 years

The state of Florida recently enacted legislation that will have a significant impact on employers across the state. Senate Bill 1718 (SB1718), which Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law on May 10, 2023, requires private employers with 25 or more employees to use E-Verify for all new hires, effecti

While President Biden says he is the most pro-union president in history, many legislators in Connecticut seem determined to make theirs one of the most pro-union states. Although proponents have failed so far in annual efforts to make strikers eligible for unemployment compensation benefits, they h

In a recent decision, the Colorado Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court’s ruling that a former executive for a credit-card processing company did not breach his employment agreement when he poached company clients, because the company materially breached the employment agreement first. Accordingl

While new Connecticut legislation stops short of prescribing specific staffing ratios, it mandates specific requirements for nurse staffing committees. The Department of Public Health will oversee hospital compliance and assess fines for violations. The legislation affects both unionized and non-uni

On July 10, 2023, Governor Newsome signed over 20 budget-related bills, which go into effect immediately. One of those bills ( AB 102 ) includes funding for the defunct Industrial Welfare Commission (“IWC”).

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, employers have often asked about the limits of liability for workplace COVID-19 infections that spread to family members. Last week, the California Supreme Court gave us answers.

Beginning May 1, 2026, Maine’s new paid family leave law will allow Maine employees up to 12 weeks of family and medical leave benefits over a one-year period.

New York City was on track to becoming the first major U.S. city to implement a minimum pay-rate for app-based restaurant delivery workers. However, the new law, which was scheduled to go into effect July 12, 2023, has been stayed by New York State Supreme Court Judge Nicholas Moyne.

The First Special Session of the 131st Maine Legislature included debate about more than 2,000 bills. Many that were adopted will impact employers in the Pine Tree State. Below is a brief summary of important employment law changes enacted this session. An Act to Create the Maine Paid Family

On June 30, 2023, the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico issued an Opinion and Order interpreting an employer’s obligation to pay the Christmas Bonus to employees covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Writing for the Court, Judge Rafael Martínez Torres reasoned that because the Puerto Rico D

In a recent decision, a Georgia appellate panel held that an employee nonsolicitation covenant that limits what parties can do following the end of a business relationship must have an explicit geographic limitation to be enforceable under state law.