Responding to increased attention to worker protections promoting public health and safety, both Bloomington’s and St. Paul’s City Councils recently unanimously approved amendments to their Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) Ordinances. The ESST Ordinances obligate an employer to pay their employees when they take time off for reasons related to the employee’s or the
San Francisco Passes Ordinance Mandating Paid Military Leave
On January 20, 2023, San Francisco approved the Military Leave Pay Protection Act, which mandates that certain employers must provide paid leave for employees taking leave for military duty.
The ordinance takes effect 30 days after passage on February 19, 2023.
Find out more here.
(Mothering) Justice Denied: Michigan Legislative Amendments to Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Upheld
The Michigan legislature was within its authority to amend two ballot initiatives in 2018, one to significantly raise the minimum wage and the other to greatly expand the availability of paid sick leave to employees, the Michigan Court of Appeals has held. Mothering Justice v. Attorney General, 2023 Mich. App. LEXIS 625 (Mich. Ct.
2022 New York Roundup: State, City Legislative and Related Developments
In 2022, New York State and New York City enacted many new workplace laws, creating additional obligations for employers.
Read more here.
The Aftermath of U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs: Where Are the States in Fall 2022?
The legal landscape around abortion rights has changed greatly following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, No. 19-1392 (June 24, 2022), which ended a nearly 50-year precedent protecting the right to abortion and opened the door for states to implement and enforce new laws on access to abortion.
Department of Education Releases New Guidance on Pregnancy and Related Conditions
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released a fact resource on October 4, 2022, reaffirming that Title IX of the Education Amendments Act protects students and employees from discrimination based on pregnancy and related conditions.
Read more here.
Now Is Always a Good Time to Evaluate Your FMLA Processes
Based on our experience advising hundreds of employers and closely watching court rulings on cases around the country, we offer a few tips for complying with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Employers should follow their own policies with respect to FMLA leave and requests for time off. To avoid potential issues, employers should
9th Circuit Holds California Paid Sick Leave Does Not Apply to Rail Workers
California’s Healthy Workplace, Healthy Family Act (the Act) requiring most employers to provide paid sick leave for covered employees went into effect in 2015. However, in 2017 and 2021, two separate California federal district courts concluded that the Act was not applicable to rail workers due to preemption by the federal Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act
U.S. Supreme Court Overturns Roe and Casey: What This Decision Means for Employers
As many expected based on the draft opinion that was leaked months ago, the U.S. Supreme Court has held the U.S. Constitution does not protect the right to obtain an abortion. Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, No. 19-1392 (June 24, 2022).
Read more here.
Amendments to Puerto Rico 2017 Employment Law Reform Employers Need to Know
Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi has signed into law changes reversing portions of the 2017 employment reform law. House Bill 1244 (HB 1244) rolls back and changes the statutory probationary period, vacation and sick leave accrual, and eligibility for the annual Christmas Bonus, among other requirements. The changes go into effect for most employers