Working together to protect employees in light of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency, the U.S. Congress and President Donald Trump took swift legislative action this month to enable employees to care for afflicted family members, themselves and their children without fear of losing their jobs or financial stability. On March 18, 2020, the Families Read more
Whether it’s to welcome a new child or cope with a serious health condition, this year employees in Washington State can start exercising their right to take paid time off available through the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program. PFML is a mandatory statewide insurance program that provides wage replacement benefits to an Read more
Earlier this year, Governor Phil Murphy signed two bills into laws that expand New Jersey’s leave laws and amend the wage and hour law. Most amendments are effective now. Covered employers must review the new laws to ensure compliance. Bill A 3975 Under enacted Bill A 3975, New Jersey’s Family Leave Act expands its reach Read more
On July 1, 2019, the District of Columbia (DC) started collecting taxes from all private sector employers to fund the Universal Paid Leave Amendment Act of 2016. Every quarter, covered employers must file a wage report and pay 0.62 percent on that quarter’s wages or income. Covered employers include all DC employers subject to DC Read more
Following pressure from business leaders, Governor Baker signed an emergency bill (S 2255) on June 13th to delay the start of employer and employee contributions to the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program by three months. The new effective date is October 1, 2019. This delay will allow covered employers more time to Read more
Lawmakers in Washington State have been active in recent years enacting groundbreaking new laws promoting workers’ family stability and economic security. Two significant examples are the 2017 Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) insurance program and the 2018 Equal Pay Opportunity Act (EPOA). The Department of Labor & Industries is informing employers and employees of Read more
On June 28, 2018, the Massachusetts Legislature passed House Bill 4640, which will gradually raise the minimum wage, and will provide paid family and medical leave (PFML) to employees. Most employees will be eligible to get up to 12 weeks of paid family leave and up to 20 weeks of paid medical leave. The program Read more
Both new parents and newborns experience immediate and long-term benefits given adequate time to develop a strong bond from the outset of the relationship, yet many parents are forced to choose between the bonding experience and a paycheck. Lawmakers are attempting to change that dilemma. Momentum is gaining for a national law that would provide Read more
During this year’s legislative term, Vermont lawmakers passed the Employment Protection for Crime Victims Law (HB 711) adding crime victim status to the list of characteristics which are protected from employment discrimination. The law protects both employees and job applicants who are crime victims from discriminatory employment practices and retaliation. The law also requires employers Read more
New York employers only have a few more weeks left before the new New York Paid Family Leave becomes effective. Starting January 1, 2018, an employer with employees working in New York for 30 or more days in a calendar year must obtain Paid Family Leave coverage. This includes employers located outside of New York Read more
