Law and the Workplace

Tag Archives: New and Proposed Laws and Legislation

New York State DOL Increases Upstate New York Minimum Wage, Proposes Hike in Upstate Minimum Salary for Exemption

By Allan Bloom on Posted in Salary basis, Wage and Hour
As part of its goal of phasing in a $15 minimum wage for all employees in New York, the State began implementing annual increases in 2016 across all regions.  The annual increases are published by the Commissioner of Labor on or about October 1 of each year, and are based on percentage increases determined by … Continue Reading

Delaware Becomes Latest State to Institute Paid Family and Medical Leave

By Evandro Gigante, Laura Fant and Morgan Peterson on Posted in Leaves of Absences, Workplace Policies and Procedures
On May 10, 2022, Delaware Governor John Carey signed into law a bill that will require private employers with ten or more employees in Delaware to provide up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave beginning in January 2026, one year after payroll tax deductions to fund the program begin on January 1, … Continue Reading

Do We Have to Pay for That?  Part 1—COVID-19 Vaccination, Testing, and Screening Activities (Updated Jan. 13, 2022)

By Allan Bloom on Posted in Class/Collective Action, FLSA, Wage and Hour
In this blog series, we’ll look at a variety of activities and discuss whether an employer has to pay its non-exempt (i.e., overtime-eligible) employees for their time spent engaging in them.  We’ll focus on federal law, but as with all wage and hour issues, applicable state and local laws must be considered as well.  Also, … Continue Reading

New York Legislates Joint Wage Liability for Construction Industry Contractors

By Allan Bloom and Megan Childs on Posted in Wage and Hour
On September 6, 2021, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law New York Senate Bill S2766, which makes contractors in the construction industry jointly and severally liable for wages owed to employees of its subcontractors.  The groundbreaking new law—which adds new section 198-e to the Labor Law (“§ 198-e”)—continues the expansion of worker rights … Continue Reading

Biden Administration Wage and Hour Update:  50 Days In…

By Allan Bloom on Posted in Biden Administration Coverage, FLSA, Independent Contractor, Wage and Hour
We’re 50 days into the Biden administration.  Here’s an update on where things stand with respect to wage and hour law at the federal level: On March 11, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD)—as expected—announced its proposals to rescind the Trump-era rules on independent contractor classification and joint employment. WHD’s … Continue Reading

December 31, 2020 Deadline Looms for Illinois Employers to Conduct Sexual Harassment Training

By Edward Young, Hannah Morris and Steven J. Pearlman on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Workplace Policies and Procedures
As we have previously noted, effective January 1, 2020, the Illinois Human Rights Act requires Illinois employers to provide employees with sexual harassment prevention training by December 31, 2020, and on at least an annual basis thereafter.  Such training must comport with the minimum requirements established by the Illinois Department of Human Rights’ (“IDHR”) model … Continue Reading

[Podcast]: Recent Developments on California’s COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Law

By Harris Mufson and Philippe A. Lebel on Posted in Coronavirus, Leaves of Absences, Workplace Policies and Procedures
In this episode of The Proskauer Brief, partner Harris Mufson and associate Phil Lebel discuss recent legal developments in California, specifically a new supplemental paid sick leave law and coronavirus (COVID-19) exposure notification requirements. Tune in as we discuss steps employers can take to ensure compliance with these new requirements. Listen to the podcast.  … Continue Reading

Hearing Scheduled On Proposed Amendments to Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Law

By Mark W. Batten and Samantha Regenbogen Manelin on Posted in Independent Contractor, Leaves of Absences, Workplace Policies and Procedures
On June 11, 2020, the Department of Family and Medical Leave (“DFML”) will hold a virtual public hearing on its recent proposed amendments to the final regulations pertaining to the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Law (“PFML”) issued in June 2019.  (Instructions for registering for the virtual hearing are available at this link).  A … Continue Reading

Dems Introduce Bills to Raise Salary Minimum for Overtime Exemption

By Allan Bloom on Posted in FLSA, Wage and Hour
Members of the House and Senate introduced companion bills on June 11, 2019 to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to raise the minimum salary threshold for exempt executive, administrative, and professional (“EAP”) employees to north of $50,000 and to automatically update the threshold every three years. The “Restoring Overtime Pay Act of 2019” (H.R. … Continue Reading

[Podcast]: Recent Developments in California Law

By Tony Oncidi and Harris Mufson on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Independent Contractor, The Proskauer Brief Podcast, Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
In this episode of The Proskauer Brief, partner Tony Oncidi and senior counsel Harris Mufson discuss key developments in California employment law, including a new test to determine whether workers are independent contractors or employees and what’s new on the #MeToo front. Listen to the podcast.  … Continue Reading

Vermont Enacts Salary History Inquiry Law

By Allan Bloom and Laura Fant on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks, Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Paying WagesVermont has become the latest jurisdiction to enact a law that will prohibit employers from inquiring about, seeking, or requiring salary history information from prospective employees. The law will take effect on July 1, 2018. Under the law, employers and their agents will be prohibited from: inquiring about or seeking information regarding a prospective employee’s … Continue Reading

Westchester County, New York Enacts Salary History Inquiry Law

By Evandro Gigante, Laura Fant and Maryssa Mataras on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks, Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
The Westchester County, NY Board of Legislators has unanimously enacted legislation that will prohibit employers and their agents from relying on, requiring, requesting, or seeking information about a prospective employee’s wage history during the hiring process. The Wage History Anti-Discrimination Law (the “Law”) will become effective on July 9, 2018. The Law amends the Westchester … Continue Reading

Governor Cuomo Signs New York State Budget Anti-Harassment Provisions Into Law

By Allan Bloom and Laura Fant on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
On April 12, 2018, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law the New York State budget, which, as we previously reported, includes several significant measures directed at both private and government employers regarding sexual harassment in the workplace. The signing of the budget bills triggers the countdown to the effective dates of the various … Continue Reading

New York State Budget Includes Workplace Anti-Sexual Harassment Measures

By Allan Bloom, Bassam Gergi and Laura Fant on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
The New York State Legislature and Governor Andrew Cuomo have reached agreement on a $168 billion budget deal for the 2019 fiscal year, which began on April 1, 2018. The budget includes several significant measures directed at both private and government employers regarding sexual harassment in the workplace. Many of the measures mirror legislation that … Continue Reading

NYC Council to Consider Series of Bills Aimed at Addressing Workplace Sexual Harassment

By Evandro Gigante, Laura Fant and Meika Freeman on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
The New York City Council will consider a series of bills aimed at preventing and addressing workplace sexual harassment, both in the private sector and in city agencies.  The eleven bills, collectively titled the Stop Sexual Harassment in NYC Act, were jointly introduced by the Council Committee on Women and the Committee on Civil and … Continue Reading

Austin, Texas Enacts Paid Sick and Safe Leave Law

By Allan Bloom, Arielle E. Kobetz and Laura Fant on Posted in Leaves of Absences
Leave of absence formThe Austin, Texas City Council has enacted a paid sick and safe leave ordinance, becoming the first southern city to pass such a law for private sector employees.  The ordinance will take effect on October 1, 2018 for employers with five or more employees; coverage for smaller employers begins on October 1, 2020. Employees who work … Continue Reading

Massachusetts Legislature Considers Prohibiting Mandatory Arbitration of Employment Claims

By Mark W. Batten and Samantha Regenbogen Manelin on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
A bill prohibiting mandatory arbitration of employment-related claims, introduced in late 2017 before the Massachusetts House of Representatives, continues to gain traction in early 2018.  The bill (House Bill 4058), which proposes legislation that would prohibit enforcement of mandatory arbitration agreements “relating to a claim of discrimination, non-payment of wages or benefits, retaliation, harassment or … Continue Reading

2017 Form EEO-1 Survey Now Available

By Alex Weinstein, Connie Bertram and Guy Brenner on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
EEOC sealYesterday, the 2017 EEO-1 Survey became available.  Private employers with 100 or more employees and federal government contractors or subcontractors with 50 or more employees and a contract/subcontract of $50,000 or more must file EEO-1 reports. As you may recall, last year the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) attempted to revise the Form EEO-1 … Continue Reading

Amendment to New York City Human Rights Law Mandates Employers to Engage in “Cooperative Dialogue” with Employees Seeking an Accommodation

By Bassam Gergi, Evandro Gigante and Harris Mufson on Posted in Accessibility & Accommodation, Litigation and Arbitration, Workplace Policies and Procedures
The New York City Council voted last month to amend the New York City Human Rights Law (“NYCHRL”) to mandate that covered entities engage in “cooperative dialogue” with those persons who may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation. On January 19, 2018, because the Mayor failed to take action within thirty days of its passage, the … Continue Reading

New Jersey Enacts State Anti-Discrimination Protections for Breastfeeding

By Evandro Gigante and Laura Fant on Posted in Accessibility & Accommodation, Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
Newly enacted amendments to the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) have expanded state anti-discrimination protections in the workplace, housing, and in public accommodations to include individuals who are breastfeeding or expressing milk.  The amendments also require employers to provide reasonable accommodation to breastfeeding employees.  The amendments took effect immediately upon signing by the Governor … Continue Reading

California Enacts Statewide Law Restricting Inquiries into Applicants’ Salary History

By Tony Oncidi and Laura Fant on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks
California Governor Jerry Brown has signed into law a statewide salary history inquiry law that will largely restrict employers in the state from seeking and relying upon salary history information from applicants during the hiring process. The law, which will go into effect on January 1, 2018 and will apply to all private and public … Continue Reading

Rhode Island General Assembly Passes Paid Sick Leave Law

By Lee Douthitt and Scott Faust on Posted in Leaves of Absences
Leave of absence formOn September 19, 2017, the Rhode Island General Assembly passed The Health and Safe Families and Workplace Act (the “Act”), House Bill 5413B and Senate Bill 0290B, respectively, guaranteeing roughly 90 percent of the state’s workforce the opportunity to earn paid sick and safe leave.  The Governor has already indicated that she will sign the … Continue Reading

Guidance Issued on Taxability of Contributions and Benefits under New York Paid Family Leave Law

By Arielle E. Kobetz, Evandro Gigante and Laura Fant on Posted in Leaves of Absences
Leave of absence formThe New York State Department of Taxation and Finance has issued official guidance on several taxability issues relating to the New York Paid Family Leave Law (“PFLL”), which goes into effect on January 1, 2018.  Among other details addressed, employee contributions under the PFLL shall be made on an after-tax basis, and benefits paid to … Continue Reading
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