California Risk Assessments: Seven Steps for Employers
Effective January 1, 2026, California’s CCPA will require employers with over $25 million in revenue to complete documented risk assessments before any covered data‑processing activity begins. The rule targets automated decision‑making, biometric and location tracking, and the use of sensitive personal information, demanding detailed purpose, benefit, and safeguard analysis. Employers can reuse existing DPIAs, must involve relevant staff in the assessment, and must submit a per‑jury‑signed summary to CalPrivacy starting April 1, 2028. Ongoing updates are required at least every three years or after any material change to the processing.
Nevada Supreme Court Unanimously Requires Prevailing-Wage Disputes to Be Resolved by the Nevada Labor Commissioner
On February 26, 2026 the Nevada Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Nevada’s prevailing‑wage statutes (NRS Chapter 338) provide no private right of action for employees to recover wages or overtime in court. The court held that disputes must be filed...
Navigating Florida’s CHOICE Act: Strategies for Strengthening Employer Noncompete Protections
Florida’s Contracts Honoring Opportunity, Investment, Confidentiality and Economic Growth (CHOICE) Act, effective July 1 2025, creates two new non‑compete agreement structures aimed at protecting employers from unfair competition by highly compensated staff. The legislation tightens enforcement mechanisms, allowing faster judicial remedies and...
Middle East Crisis: The 4 Most Important Employment Law Questions for HR in Germany
The Middle East escalation forces German employers to reassess travel, duty‑of‑care and compensation policies. Employees can lawfully refuse business trips to regions flagged as dangerous by the Federal Foreign Office. Companies must intensify monitoring of staff on overseas assignments and...
Virginia General Assembly Sends Bill Limiting Non-Competes to Governor’s Desk
The Virginia General Assembly approved Senate Bill No. 170, which restricts the enforceability of non‑compete agreements for employees laid off without severance or other monetary payment, unless terminated for cause. The bill requires employers to disclose any severance benefits at the...
Warehouse Quota Notice Laws: Connecticut Joins the Club
Connecticut enacted a warehouse quota notice law effective July 1 2026, joining California, New York, Minnesota, Washington and Oregon. The statute applies to non‑exempt employees in large warehouse distribution centers—those with at least 250 workers at a single site or 1,000 across the...
Labor Law Updates Every Healthcare Employer Needs to Know
Healthcare employers are facing heightened labor activity, especially in unionized hospitals across the Northeast and New York City, prompting concerns over staffing ratios, wages, and broader workforce strategy. Littler Law is hosting a webinar on April 16, 2026, to dissect...
What Builders Need to Know About E-Verify in 2026
Builders face a new compliance landscape as E-Verify becomes a prerequisite for most federal construction contracts in 2026. While the system can streamline hiring by confirming employee eligibility, it also exposes firms to government scrutiny of their workforce data. Errors...
NYC's Expanded Leave Law Goes Into Effect
Mayor Brad Lander’s administration has enacted an expansion of New York City’s Earned Safe and Sick Time Act, raising the mandatory paid leave entitlement to 80 hours per year. The rule, effective immediately, applies to private employers with five or...
Denmark’s Bill to Implement the EU Pay Transparency Directive Sent for Public Consultation
Denmark’s Ministry of Employment has issued a draft bill to transpose the EU Pay Transparency Directive, opening a public consultation until 27 March 2026. The law will take effect on 1 January 2027, a year after the EU deadline, giving larger firms a delayed...
AI Transcription and Note-Taking Technologies: Seven Points for Employers to Consider
AI note‑taking tools are rapidly entering workplaces, with a 2025 survey showing one in five professionals regularly using them to draft meeting notes. These systems can transcribe, attribute speaker comments, generate summaries, and even suggest action items, promising higher engagement...
Telework as a Reasonable Accommodation After the EEOC’s New Guidance: What Actually Changes for Employers?
The EEOC and OPM released new guidance on February 11 2026 clarifying when telework qualifies as a reasonable accommodation under the ADA and Rehabilitation Act. The agency stresses that remote work is required only if it effectively enables participation in hiring, performance...
New York Enacts Chapter Amendment to “Trapped at Work Act,” Clarifying Scope, Creating Targeted Exceptions, and Delaying Effective Date
Governor Hochul signed a chapter amendment to New York’s Trapped at Work Act, narrowing its coverage to employees and redefining repayment obligations. The amendment postpones the law’s operative provisions to December 19 2026, effectively delaying compliance for a year. It introduces targeted...
Latest Updates on the UK Employment Rights Act 2025: Revised Implementation Timeline and New Consultations
The UK government has revised the Employment Rights Act 2025 rollout, moving six flagship reforms—including doubled redundancy awards, whistleblowing updates and menopause guidance—to 6 April 2026 and establishing the Fair Work Agency on 7 April 2026. Electronic and workplace balloting will now debut in...
Littler Edge Training - Q1 2026
Littler Mendelson is hosting a live webinar on March 12, 2026 to demonstrate Littler Edge, its new employment‑and‑labor‑law compliance platform. The 45‑minute session, led by Knowledge Management Director Katherine R. Hinde, will walk participants through the tool’s search, guidance, and...
Higher English Language Requirements for UK Work Visas
The UK government will raise the English language benchmark for Skilled Worker, Scale‑up Worker and High‑Potential Individual visas from CEFR level B1 to B2, effective 8 January 2026. The change applies to new applications, including those switching from other routes, and aims...
New UK Immigration Measures Are Set to Facilitate Entering the UK Tech and Science Sectors
UK ministers announced a package of immigration reforms aimed at strengthening the country’s tech and science sectors. A fast‑track referral route will accelerate sponsor licences for high‑growth firms, while the Global Talent visa will be broadened for academic and industry...
Italy's Pay Transparency Decree: A Turning Point for Equal Pay
On 5 February 2026 Italy’s Council of Ministers approved a draft legislative decree to transpose the EU Pay‑Transparency Directive (2023/970) into national law, with a June 7 2026 deadline for full implementation. The decree anchors equal‑pay assessments to the classifications set out in national...
OFCCP Poised to Produce Contractors’ EEO-1 Data Following Losses in Litigation
The Ninth Circuit ruled in July 2025 that the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) must disclose consolidated EEO‑1 reports for federal contractors covering 2016‑2020. After a series of FOIA lawsuits by the Center for Investigative Reporting, OFCCP abandoned...
Northern California Workplace Investigations Workshop
The Northern California Workplace Investigations Workshop offers HR, labor relations and in‑house counsel a half‑day, in‑person training on conducting lawful, defensible investigations. Participants will learn to design investigative plans, gather evidence, interview witnesses, handle privileged matters and social‑media issues, and...
Littler Lightbulb – January 2026 Appellate Roundup
The January 2026 appellate roundup highlights several pivotal employment‑law decisions. The Ninth Circuit reversed a district court, holding that any amount of entertainment work qualifies a production company for the Multi‑employer Pension Plan Amendments Act exemption. The Fifth Circuit affirmed...
Title IX Preempts Public University Labor Contract Grievance Procedure, According to New Jersey Supreme Court
The New Jersey Supreme Court held that Title IX preempts the grievance and arbitration provisions in Rutgers University’s labor contract with AFSCME Local 888, overturning a lower‑court order to arbitrate a termination dispute. The court found the contract’s arbitration process denied the Title IX...
As NICU Cases Rise, Laws and Employers Look to Assist Working Parents
Rising neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions are prompting a wave of state legislation and corporate policy changes aimed at supporting working parents. Over the past year, NICU cases have climbed roughly 15%, leading 12 states to enact NICU-specific leave...
Wage and Hour Spotlight: Dennis M. Brown, Littler Mendelson
Dennis M. Brown, a senior partner at Littler Mendelson, shared his perspective on the evolving wage‑and‑hour litigation landscape. He highlighted increasing federal enforcement actions and the growing complexity of multi‑state compliance. Brown noted that employers are facing heightened scrutiny over...
Lawmakers Weigh Government’s Role in Lowering AI Risk to Workers
Lawmakers are evaluating whether the federal government should intervene to mitigate AI‑related risks to workers. During a hearing before the House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions, Bradford Kelley of Littler argued that the low number of lawsuits over...
More State Lawmakers Threaten Transgender Job Bias Ban Repeals
State lawmakers, primarily Republicans, are introducing a wave of bills to repeal existing bans on transgender and nonbinary workplace bias and harassment protections. The legislative push spans more than 20 states this session, targeting statutes enacted after the 2020 Bostock...
Maine Joins Pushback Against Worker Surveillance
Governor Janet Mills signed legislation restricting employers’ electronic surveillance of workers, effective 2026. The law prohibits continuous monitoring without explicit employee consent and mandates transparent data handling practices. It applies to both on‑site and remote work environments, covering video, audio,...
Fourth Circuit Allows Implementation of DEI Executive Orders to Proceed
The Fourth Circuit vacated a district court injunction, allowing President Trump’s Executive Orders 14151 and 14173 on DEI to remain in effect for federal contractors and grant recipients. The court held that plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge the Enforcement Threat Provision, but recognized...
California High Court Limits Use of Formatting and “Fine Print” Arguments to Defeat Arbitration
The California Supreme Court ruled that the visual presentation of an arbitration agreement—such as tiny, dense font—does not by itself render the clause substantively unconscionable. While procedural defects may raise a court's scrutiny, substantive unfairness must still be shown. The...
Policy Week in Review – February 6, 2026
The Department of Labor raised the minimum wage for federal contractors to $13.65 per hour, with tipped workers covered at $9.55, effective 90 days after publication. The DHS and DOL issued a temporary rule adding up to 64,716 supplemental H‑2B...
DOL Notice Indicates Federal Contractor Minimum Wage Does Not Apply to Contracts Entered Into or Renewed After January 29, 2022
The U.S. Department of Labor issued a notice raising the federal contractor minimum wage to $13.65 per hour (and $9.55 cash wage for tipped workers), effective 90 days after its Feb. 9, 2026 publication. Crucially, the notice states that Executive Order 13658...
Untangling the Varying Requirements of State and Local Fair Workweek Laws
Predictable‑scheduling (fair workweek) laws now cover major U.S. cities and states, mandating 14‑day advance posting, employee consent for changes, and premium pay for late‑notice shifts. Employers must provide good‑faith schedule estimates, offer open hours to current staff before hiring, and...
India’s New Labor Codes: What Global Leaders Managing Indian Teams Need to Know - Session 2
India has rolled out four unified labor codes that replace decades of fragmented employment legislation, fundamentally changing hiring, compensation, and workforce management. The codes aim to simplify compliance, boost ease of doing business, and align with international standards. A webinar...
Ohio’s E-Verify Law for Nonresidential Construction Contractors Takes Effect Soon
Effective March 19, 2026, Ohio’s Workforce Integrity Act mandates that all non‑residential construction contractors, subcontractors and labor brokers verify employee eligibility through E‑Verify. The law defines non‑residential projects broadly, covering buildings, highways, bridges and utilities, while exempting residential and agricultural...
Prevailing Wage Compliance Workshop: NJ Edition - Short Hills
On April 2, 2026, Littler will host a full‑day Prevailing Wage Compliance Workshop for New Jersey public‑works contractors at the Hilton Short Hills. Led by leading practitioner Russell McEwan, the program covers registration, apprentice rules, certified payroll, audit procedures and subcontractor liability under recent...
Dear Littler: Are There Any Concerns About Letting Our Employees Post Videos About Our Products?
A retailer’s marketing manager asks if an employee‑influencer can post a product video on social media. The FTC mandates a clear disclosure of any material connection between the employee and the company, and violations can result in fines. The company...
Puerto Rico Supreme Court Enforces Private Employment Arbitration Clauses Under Act 100 Discrimination Claims
The Puerto Rico Supreme Court ruled that mandatory arbitration clauses in private employment contracts are enforceable for discrimination claims under Act 100, provided the agreement impacts interstate commerce and thus falls under the Federal Arbitration Act. The decision expressly limits its...
Milan–Cortina 2026: The Employment Law Behind the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games
Italy will host the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games starting February 6, 2026, spotlighting the nation’s capacity for large‑scale event delivery. The Games emphasize gender balance, projecting the highest female athlete participation in Winter Olympic history and increased...
California Workplace Know Your Rights Notice Requirement Is in Effect
California’s Workplace‑Know‑Your‑Rights Act (SB 294) takes effect on February 1, 2026, obligating every employer to deliver a standalone written notice to all current staff and new hires, then repeat it annually. The notice must outline workers’ compensation, immigration‑related protections, union rights, and Fourth...
Policy Week in Review – January 30, 2026
The NLRB Division of Advice issued memos recommending dismissal of three charges that stretched Biden‑era precedents, covering a union recognition claim, a Slack criticism case, and an overbroad non‑solicitation clause. The Department of Labor’s EBSA proposed a rule forcing PBM...
Travel Time or Working Time? What the Latest CJEU Decision Means for Employers in Germany
Recent CJEU ruling (Case C‑110/24) classifies travel that is tightly organised by the employer as working time for health‑and‑safety purposes. German courts have traditionally focused on the burden of travel, but the EU decision shifts emphasis to employer control, potentially...
New Jersey Dramatically Expands Job-Protected Family Leave and Benefits
Effective July 17, 2026, New Jersey will lower the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA) employer threshold from 30 to 15 employees and cut employee eligibility to three months of service and 250 hours worked. The amendment also requires up to 12...
NLRB Region 12 Reinforces Imminent Closure Standard in SolarMovil PR LLC Decision
The NLRB Region 12 regional director dismissed a union representation petition against SolarMovil PR LLC because the solar‑farm project was “imminently and definitely” ending. The decision hinged on concrete evidence such as a fixed‑date contract, 82 % project completion, and lack of future work...
Puerto Rico Governor Declares a State of Emergency Due to Influenza Epidemic, Activating Five-Day Paid Leave
Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González issued Executive Order 2026‑005 on Jan 27, 2026, declaring a state of emergency in response to an influenza epidemic. The order activates Act No. 37, which adds a special five‑day paid leave for non‑exempt employees who have exhausted vacation and...
New York Governor Proposes “No Tax on Tips” Legislation
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has proposed eliminating state income tax on up to $25,000 of tipped income for 2026, and Senate Bill S587‑A would codify the deduction. The measure mirrors the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s qualified‑tip deduction but does not include...
