New Connecticut Law on Employers’ AI Use Is Inventive
Connecticut has enacted a pioneering law that governs the use of artificial intelligence in employment decisions. The statute requires employers to conduct risk assessments, disclose AI tools to candidates, and offer an opt‑out option. A distinctive feature is a pilot program authorizing independent verification organizations to certify that AI systems meet defined safety and mitigation standards. Non‑compliance can result in civil penalties, positioning Connecticut as a front‑runner in state‑level AI regulation.
DOL Provides Guidance Related to Pre-Shift Work, Limits on the De Minimis Doctrine, and Timekeeping Rounding Practices
On May 28, 2026 the U.S. Department of Labor issued Opinion Letter FLSA2026‑8, clarifying how hospitals must treat pre‑shift activities, waiting time, the de minimis doctrine, and time‑keeping rounding under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The DOL ruled that tasks integral...
DOL Opinion Letter Confirms Voluntary Off-Site Travel Does Not Make Meal Periods Compensable
On May 28, 2026 the U.S. Department of Labor issued Opinion Letter FLSA2026‑7, confirming that an employee’s voluntary decision to leave the worksite during a bona‑fide meal break does not make the break compensable under the Fair Labor Standards Act....
What Employers Need to Know About Pension Fund Withdrawal Liability After M & K Employee Solutions V. Trustees of the...
On May 21, 2026 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a multi‑employer pension fund’s actuary may revise actuarial assumptions after the measurement date, provided the assumptions reflect information as of that date. The decision arose from M & K Employee Solutions’ challenge to a...
Beyond Retirement: What Employers Need to Know About China’s New Rules for Over-Age Employees
On May 10, 2025 Chinese regulators issued the Interim Measures on the Protection of Basic Rights and Interests of Over‑Age Workers, effective July 1, 2026. The rules require employers to formalize engagements with workers beyond statutory retirement ages through written contracts, enforce minimum‑wage and...
Littler Hawaiʻi Breakfast Briefing - July 2026
Littler Hawaiʻi hosted a half‑day Breakfast Briefing on July 29, 2026, bringing together HR leaders and employers in Honolulu. The in‑person event covered the 2026 employment‑law landscape, workplace investigations, ADA interactive processes, restrictive covenants, and the latest NLRB and union‑organizing developments. Attendees...
International Court of Justice Recognizes the Right to Strike
On 21 May 2026 the International Court of Justice issued a non‑binding advisory opinion that the right to strike is an implicit corollary of ILO Convention 87’s freedom of association guarantee. The court emphasized that the convention’s silence on strikes was intentional, yet...
Legislative Lowdown: DOL Rescinds Biden-Era Overtime Rule
The U.S. Department of Labor has withdrawn the Biden administration’s 2023 overtime rule, reinstating the 2019 regulations that set higher salary thresholds for exemption. The reversal restores the previous $35,568 annual salary test and the duties test for white‑collar workers....
Virginia Enacts Paid Sick Leave Law
Virginia enacted a statewide paid‑sick‑leave mandate (HB 5/SB 199) that obligates private firms and state‑local governments to provide accrued sick leave. Employers with 50 or more workers must comply by July 1 2027, those with 25 or more by Jan 1 2028, and all others by Jan 1 2029. Workers...
2026 Massachusetts Employment Law Update
Littler is hosting a virtual 2026 Massachusetts Employment Law Update on June 18, 2026. The live webinar runs from 8:00‑9:30 a.m. ET and will cover recent legal trends affecting Commonwealth employers. Attendees can earn pending HRCI, SHRM, and CLE continuing‑education credits. For registration...
2026 Puerto Rico Employer Conference
Littler’s 2026 Puerto Rico Employer Conference will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering a full‑day program on labor dynamics, AI impact, and regulatory changes. Attendees receive Employment Intelligence™ tools to anticipate risk, ensure compliance, and design resilient workplaces. The registration...
Littler Names First-Ever Wellness Director
Littler, the nation’s largest labor and employment law firm, announced the creation of its first‑ever Wellness Director position, appointing Denver shareholder Michelle Gomez to lead the initiative. The role is designed to embed mental‑health and well‑being programs across the firm’s...
Overlapping Sick Leave Law Provisions: Guidance for What Applies
Employers are grappling with how multiple sick‑leave statutes—federal, state and local—interact when they overlap. The SHRM guidance, authored by Sebastian Chilco and Stephanie Mills‑Gallan, outlines a decision‑making framework for determining which law applies in a given situation. It emphasizes assessing...
Chicago Refines Paid Leave Rules Ahead of June 1 Effective Date
Chicago’s Paid Leave and Paid Sick and Safe Leave Ordinance will enforce revised rules on June 1, 2026. The updates clarify that informal childcare arrangements count as a “place of care,” allow employers to discipline patterned leave misuse, and introduce a joint‑employer...
Littler Scales AI-Powered Deposition Training with Adoption of AltaClaro’s DepoSim
Littler, the world’s largest employment‑law firm, has adopted AltaClaro’s DepoSim, an AI‑powered deposition simulation platform, across its entire practice. The tool lets attorneys rehearse oral depositions in realistic, AI‑driven scenarios and receive instant, actionable feedback on questioning and witness control....
Policy Week in Review – May 15, 2026
The U.S. Department of Labor announced a technical amendment on May 14 that rolls back the Biden‑era overtime rule, restoring the 2019 Trump‑era salary threshold for white‑collar workers under the FLSA. Meanwhile, the Discharge Petition to force a floor vote...
Connecticut Passes Law Significantly Regulating Use of AI in Employment
Connecticut’s Senate Bill 5, set to become law in October 2026, creates the nation’s first comprehensive AI‑employment statute. It defines Automated Employment‑related Decision Technology (AEDT) broadly and requires employers to disclose AI use in real‑time interactions and before any employment decision. The...
Department of Labor Restores Salary Levels for FLSA White Collar Exemptions
On May 14, 2026 the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division issued a technical amendment that overturns the 2024 rule and reinstates the 2019 salary thresholds for the Fair Labor Standards Act white‑collar exemptions. The executive, administrative and professional...
Key US Employment Law Issues of Concern to Chinese Employers in 2026: A Strategic Update
In a May 4, 2026 briefing, Philip M. Berkowitz and Jerry Zhang outline the most pressing U.S. employment‑law challenges facing Chinese companies expanding stateside. They highlight five focal areas—return‑to‑work policies, employee data protection, DEI mandates, whistleblower claims, and immigration compliance—where regulatory scrutiny...
AI Transforming HR Faster Than Companies Can Set Up Processes to Contain Risks
The 2026 Employer Survey Report reveals that AI is reshaping human‑resources functions faster than firms can establish safeguards. Over three‑quarters of respondents expect AI‑driven changes in hiring, performance reviews, and workforce planning within the next year. Yet fewer than one‑third...
Internal Revenue Service Publishes Final Rule for “No Tax on Tips” Deduction
The IRS issued its Final Rule for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s “no‑tax‑on‑tips” deduction, confirming the list of qualifying occupations and making modest updates. Three new occupations—visual artists, floral designers and gas‑pump attendants—were added, and three existing categories were...
Mexico Reduces the Workweek
Mexico's Federal Labor Law was amended on May 1 2026, initiating a phased reduction of the statutory workweek from 48 to 40 hours by 2030. The reform also raises the overtime ceiling to 12 hours per week, with double pay up to...
“All or Nothing” Or Only in Part? – What the Proposed Concept of Partial Incapacity for Work Entails Under German...
The German government plans to codify “partial incapacity for work” starting in 2027, allowing employees to work at 25%, 50% or 75% of their normal hours while still certified sick. The arrangement requires mutual agreement; employees must request it and...
Three Weeks of Vacation at a Time? Employers May Not Impose Blanket Limits in Germany
The Thuringian Higher Labor Court ruled on March 2, 2026 that German employers cannot impose a blanket two‑week limit on consecutive annual leave. The decision arose from a dispute where an employee sought a three‑week vacation and the employer cited an internal...
2026 Mid‑Atlantic Regional Employer Conference
Littler’s 2026 Mid‑Atlantic Regional Employer Conference, titled “Employment Intelligence 2 – Powering the Future Workplace,” will run from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on a single day, with a $405 registration fee (10% discount for multiple registrants). The event targets in‑house counsel and...
In the Eleventh Hour: Implementation Status of the EU Pay Transparency Directive
The EU’s Pay Transparency Directive (2023/970) faces a looming June 7 2026 transposition deadline, yet most member states remain without final legislation. Sweden, Estonia, Belgium and other countries are pushing for delays, but the European Commission has signaled no extensions. Only Slovakia...
Tips HR Teams Need To Better Support Neurodiversity Accommodation Requests During Return-To-Office Transitions
As companies push employees back to the office, HR leaders must redesign return‑to‑office (RTO) policies to address neurodiversity accommodation requests. The article outlines practical steps for creating transparent request processes, training managers, and adapting physical workspaces. It emphasizes the need...
Building a Mothership Platform, One Location at a Time
Littler Mendelson’s senior partner Stephan Swinkels outlines the firm’s "mothership" platform, a strategy that layers regional hubs into a unified global employment law practice. The model centralizes expertise, technology and client services while allowing each location to retain local market...
AI Mandates May Stir up Religious Objections. HR Should Prepare Now.
Employers are encountering an uptick in religious objections to corporate AI mandates, ranging from generative‑text tools to automated monitoring. HR leaders are being urged to treat accommodation requests for AI‑related concerns with the same rigor as medical or disability accommodations....
How US In-House Teams Can Stop ADA Risk Before It Starts
U.S. employers are facing a rise in ADA accommodation disputes, prompting in‑house teams to rethink their compliance approach. Jeff Nowak advises that legal counsel need not be involved in every request; instead, companies should establish clear escalation points within the...
Path Looks Narrow for Bill To Speed First Union Contracts
The Faster Labor Contracts Act, introduced to accelerate the negotiation of first contracts after a union election, is encountering significant legislative resistance. Proponents argue the bill would reduce prolonged bargaining periods and lower litigation risk for employers. Critics, including major...
New Jersey Department of Labor Publishes Final ABC Rule
After a year‑long delay, New Jersey’s Department of Labor issued a final rule implementing the state’s ABC test for worker classification. The final rule scales back the controversial provisions of the earlier proposal, eliminating industry‑specific examples, the treatment of software...
14th Annual Brewers Briefing
Littler Milwaukee is hosting its complimentary 14th Annual Brewers Briefing, a half‑day conference at American Family Field that runs from 8:15 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. on a day when the Milwaukee Brewers face the San Francisco Giants. The agenda covers employment and labor‑law...
Former NLRB and In-House Employment Leader RyAnn Hooper Joins Littler in New York
Littler, the world’s largest management‑focused labor and employment firm, added RyAnn Hooper as of counsel in its New York office. Hooper arrives from New York Life, where she led the Fortune 100 insurer’s global employment law function, and brings two decades of experience...
Littler Welcomes Katharine Lennox as Shareholder in Rochester
Littler, the world’s largest employment‑law firm, announced that Katharine Lennox has joined its Rochester office as a shareholder in the Unfair Competition and Trade Secrets Practice Group. Lennox arrives from McGuireWoods with nearly 15 years of litigation experience across trade‑secret,...
Policy Week in Review – May 1, 2026
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear Sun Valley Orchards v. Department of Labor, a case that could bar agencies from imposing monetary fines without a judicial hearing. President Trump signed an executive order creating TrumpIRA.gov to give workers without...
The Netherlands: Holiday Accrual During Dormant Employment?
Dutch courts are wrestling with whether employees in "dormant employment" – a status after 104 weeks of incapacity when salary payments stop – continue to accrue holiday entitlement. In August 2025, the Gelderland District Court aligned Dutch practice with EU law,...
Liability Under Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave
Recent Massachusetts court decisions have clarified the scope of employer obligations under the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) law. The rulings detail how contribution amounts must be calculated, the timing and content of required employee notices, and the...
Pets at Work? How Benefit Teams Can Prep to Accommodate Service Animals
Benefit leaders are seeing a surge in requests for service‑animal accommodations, prompting a shift in workplace disability and retention strategies. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, employers must treat service animals as a reasonable accommodation, distinct from pets. Companies are...
DOL Expected To Stay Wage Policy Course Under Deputy
The Department of Labor is expected to maintain its current wage‑policy trajectory under Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling. Sonderling, praised for his pragmatic approach to wage‑and‑hour enforcement, is being floated as a potential future Labor Secretary. Industry observers note that...
Washington Bans All Noncompete Agreements
Washington enacted a law that bans all non‑compete agreements for employees, taking effect in July 2026. The legislation applies to any contract that restricts a worker’s ability to work for a competitor or start a similar business after leaving a...
Accommodating Workers in War Zones
Employers are not legally obligated to repatriate staff stationed in war zones, but common‑law duties of care still apply. Companies risk negligence or personal‑injury claims if an international traveler or expatriate is harmed abroad. Legal experts advise proactive risk‑management—evacuation protocols,...
Do Employees in the Netherlands Have the Right to Determine Their Own Working Hours?
The Dutch Flexible Working Act (Wet flexibel werken) permits employees to request reduced weekly hours or a different distribution of those hours, provided employers respond at least one month before the change. In a recent Zwolle Subdistrict Court case, an...
Florida Law Prohibits Government Funding for DEI Initiatives
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1134, prohibiting local governments from funding, promoting, or operating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The law bans DEI offices, staff, training contracts, and requires grant recipients to certify that public funds will...
Littler Edge Training - May 2026
Littler Mendelson is hosting a one‑hour webinar on May 20, 2026 to showcase Littler Edge, its new employment‑law compliance platform. The session runs from 10:00 AM PDT (1:00 PM ET) and is led by Katherine R. Hinde, Director of Knowledge Management Client Services. Attendees will see...
Virginia Enacts Paid Family and Medical Leave Program to Apply to Most Private Employers
Virginia enacted a state‑administered paid family and medical leave (PFML) program that will cover most private employers. The Virginia Employment Commission must launch the insurance trust fund by January 1 2028, with payroll contributions starting April 1 2028 and benefits payable beginning December 1 2028. Eligible...
The Ethical and Business Case for Fostering Allyship in the Workplace
The Women’s Leadership Initiative is hosting a luncheon that teaches practical allyship techniques for building inclusive workplaces. Speakers will link ally behavior to the Rules of Professional Conduct and recent case law, highlighting legal imperatives. Attendees will explore how supporting...
The Littler Annual Employer Survey 2026
Littler’s 14th Annual Employer Survey, based on responses from over 300 senior HR, legal and C‑suite leaders, shows AI and data‑privacy have overtaken DEI and immigration as the top policy concerns for U.S. employers in 2026. Executives report accelerating AI‑governance...
Maine Enacts Wage Transparency Law
Maine’s legislature passed LD 54, a wage‑transparency law that takes effect on July 13, 2026. The measure obligates any employer with ten or more employees to disclose a prospective pay range in every job posting, and to provide that range to employees upon...
When Your Internal HR Investigation Is on Trial: Key Case Law and Practical Lessons
Littler’s upcoming webinar will dissect recent case law on internal HR investigations, showing how courts evaluate the thoroughness and documentation of such inquiries. The session will outline practical frameworks for structuring investigations, preserving attorney‑client privilege, and mitigating retaliation claims. Speakers...