Labor Law Changes

Keeping you current on the ever changing labor laws

Recently, Illinois became the second state – after Oregon – to officially mandate that employers provide their employees time off to grieve the loss of a family member. The Illinois Child Bereavement Leave Act (CBLA) took effect immediate effect upon Governor Bruce Rauner’s signature on July 29, 2016. The law permits employees who have suffered the Read more

On March 7, 2016, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio passed Executive Order 16 providing transgender and gender non-conforming individuals access to single-sex facilities owned or operated by the City. The purpose of the Order is to ensure individuals are protected against discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression. As defined in Read more

Illinois jobseekers who file new claims for unemployment insurance benefits need to get a jump start on the job hunt. The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) recently announced that it is enhancing its enforcement of the requirement that unemployment insurance claimants register for employment services. Beginning July 17, 2016, new claimants will be required Read more

Pennsylvania is the latest state to join the U.S. Department of Labor Misclassification Initiative. As stated in the Memorandum of Understanding, the goal is to provide “clear, accurate, and easy-to-access outreach to employers, employees, and other stakeholders, and of sharing resources and enhancing enforcement by conducting coordinated investigations and sharing information consistent with applicable law.” The Commonwealth Read more

Beginning August 10, 2016, Colorado joins a growing list of states that protect employees and applicants for employment with conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth and related health conditions. Specifically, Colorado’s new pregnancy anti-discrimination law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant applicants, employees and new moms, if requested. Under the law, employers are prohibited from: Read more

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has signed S.B. 2119, An Act Establish Pay Equity, making it unlawful for any employer to discriminate on the basis of gender in the payment of wages, or pay any employee a salary less than the rates paid to its employees of a different gender for comparable work. Under the new Read more

Effective July 11, 2016, employers in the City of San Diego are required to pay employees a higher minimum wage rate and provide their employees with up to 40 hours of paid sick leave per year. Minimum Wage Under San Diego’s newly approved Earned Sick Leave and Minimum Wage Ordinance, the current minimum wage rate Read more

Employers covered by the Georgia Workers’ Compensation Law must now post the revised Workers’ Compensation Bill of Rights summary. Released by the State Board of Workers’ Compensation, the summary includes new compensation benefit amounts increased by enacted H.B 818. Starting July 1, 2016, an employer must pay a weekly benefit equal to two-thirds of the Read more

Last May, OSHA issued a final rule amending its Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses regulation (29 CFR 1904). The final rule requires certain employers to electronically report injury and illness data to OSHA and to inform employees of their right to report work-related injuries and illnesses free from retaliation. The anti-retaliation provisions of the Read more

In just a few days, Minnesotans earning minimum wage will see an increase in their pay.  Employers covered by the Minnesota Fair Labor Standards Act will have to pay their minimum wage rate employees new rates starting August 1, 2016. Employers with an annual gross volume of sales made or business done of $500,000 must Read more