
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to rescind the 2024 independent‑contractor rule and revert to a modified version of the 2021 framework. The proposal restores a two‑core‑factor analysis—control and opportunity for profit or loss—while extending the same test to the FMLA and MSPA. DOL argues the 2024 total‑ity‑of‑the‑circumstances model created unpredictability and over‑generalized factors. The change could reshape classification strategies, litigation exposure, and workforce design for employers nationwide.

President Trump signed an executive order on Dec. 18, 2025 directing the DOJ to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, acknowledging its medical use. The rulemaking process is still pending, so federal drug‑testing obligations remain unchanged for now....

Non‑compete clauses are facing heightened scrutiny worldwide as governments introduce tighter limits or outright bans. In the United States, several states have restricted use for low‑wage and medical workers, while the FTC pivots to litigation after its 2024 ban was...

Employers are rapidly adopting AI for candidate screening, with 88% of firms using such tools by 2025. A California federal case, *Mobley v. Workday*, alleges that Workday’s AI hiring platform discriminates against African‑American, older, and disabled applicants. The court granted...

USCIS opened the FY 2027 H‑1B cap registration window for March 4‑19, 2026, requiring online registration and a $215 fee per entry. The season will be dominated by a new wage‑weighted lottery that assigns multiple entries to higher wage levels (Level II‑IV) versus a...

A Pennsylvania truck driver voluntarily disclosed a 15‑year‑old armed‑robbery conviction during a job interview, prompting an immediate rejection. The employer argued the ban‑the‑box law didn’t apply because the information wasn’t obtained from a state agency. The Third Circuit reversed, holding...