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Alerts for April | |
DOL Issues Regulations for FFCRA Paid Leave(posted: Wednesday, April 1st, 2020) The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued temporary regulations to implement the paid leave mandates of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The regulations provide direction for administration of the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act. |
CARES Act Includes Changes for Health Plans(posted: Wednesday, April 1st, 2020) Coronavirus Relief Law Includes a Variety of Changes Affecting Health Plans On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) into law to provide $2.2 trillion in federal funding to address the |
Alerts for March | |
DOL Provides Guidance on Small Employer Exemption to Coronavirus Paid Leave(posted: Monday, March 30th, 2020) New FAQs on the FFCRA Address Small Employer Exemption The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued new FAQs that address the small employer exemption to certain paid leave requirements under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Small |
DOL Issues Guidance Documents on FFCRA(posted: Friday, March 27th, 2020) Guidance materials on the new Families First Coronavirus Response Act are now available for employers from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Links to the materials, which explain how the law will be implemented and include required notices, can be found on a DOL webpage dedicated to COVID-19. |
DOL: New Paid Leave Requirements Take Effect April 1(posted: Wednesday, March 25th, 2020) Coronavirus Response Act Applies to Leaves Taken April – Dec. 2020 The paid leave provisions of the recently enacted Families First Coronavirus Response Act will go into effect April 1, 2020, according to Q&As released by the U.S. Department of |
Congress Passes Coronavirus Aid Law(posted: Wednesday, March 18th, 2020) On March 18, the U.S. Senate passed a coronavirus relief bill, called the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, that was passed by the House of Representatives over the weekend. President Trump is expected to sign the bill into law. |
Health Plans Must Provide Free Coronavirus (COVID-19) Testing(posted: Wednesday, March 18th, 2020) Health Plans Must Cover COVID 19 Testing At No Charge On March 18, 2020, the U.S. Congress passed its second coronavirus relief measure – the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Act). President Trump is expected to sign the bill into |
House Approves Corrections to Coronavirus Relief Bill(posted: Tuesday, March 17th, 2020) On March 16, the U.S. House of Representatives passed technical corrections to the coronavirus relief bill, titled the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. |
House of Representatives Passes Coronavirus Relief Bill(posted: Monday, March 16th, 2020) The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act on March 14, 2020, following negotiations with the White House. The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on the bill this week. |
Deal Reached on Coronavirus Aid(posted: Saturday, March 14th, 2020) The White House and U.S. House of Representatives have reached a deal that would involve several billion dollars in federal spending and provide free medical testing, paid leave, food assistance for poor families, and other aid for people affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. |
CO Mandates Paid Employee Sick Days for COVID-19 Testing(posted: Thursday, March 12th, 2020) Effective immediately, Colorado employers in seven industries must give employees up to four days of paid sick leave for testing coronavirus (COVID 19) testing. |
California Labor Commissioner Issues Guidance on Coronavirus(posted: Thursday, March 12th, 2020) The FAQs address issues such as leave for employees under quarantine or at risk of exposure, questioning employees about their travel to high-risk areas, and the effect of operational shutdowns on employee compensation. |
DOL Issues Guidance on COVID-19 and FMLA(posted: Wednesday, March 11th, 2020) DOL Issues Guidance on COVID 19 and FMLA Q&As Apply Broadly to Public Health Emergencies The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued Q&As on the federal Family and Medical Leave Act in the context of |
IRS Allows HDHPs to Pay for COVID-19 Testing and Treatment(posted: Wednesday, March 11th, 2020) HDHPs Can Pay Benefits for COVID 19 Without a Deductible On March 11, 2020, the IRS issued Notice 2020 15 to advise that high deductible health plans (HDHPs) can pay for COVID 19 testing and treatment before plan deductibles have |
Dealing with COVID-19 in the Workplace(posted: Thursday, March 5th, 2020) Employers Must Do What They Can to Maintain a Safe and Healthy Work Environment As the number of reported cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID 19) continues to rise, employers are increasingly confronted with the possibility of an outbreak in |
Vermont Sets Minimum Wage Increases for 2021 and 2022(posted: Monday, March 2nd, 2020) New Rate Becomes Effective Jan. 1, 2021 The Vermont state legislature has approved two more increases to the state’s minimum wage rate, as shown below A new rate of $11.75 per hour becomes effective Jan. 1, |
Alerts for February | |
NLRB Issues New Joint-employer Final Rule(posted: Wednesday, February 26th, 2020) The New Joint employer Standard Becomes Effective Apr. 27 On Feb. 25, 2020, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) announced it's changing the standard it uses to determine whether employers are considered joint employers under the National Labor Relations Act. |
California Supreme Court Clarifies that Time Spent in Security Screenings is Compensable(posted: Friday, February 21st, 2020) The Court's Decision Is Enforceable and Retroactive The California Supreme Court issued a decision in Frlekin v. Apple, Inc. (Frlekin) clarifying that, under state law, compensable time or “hours of work” includes the time an employee spends on the employer’s |
Reminder: Creditable Coverage Disclosures due to CMS by Feb. 29 for Calendar Year Plans(posted: Thursday, February 13th, 2020) Employers that offer prescription drug coverage to Medicare-eligible individuals are required to complete an online disclosure form with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on an annual basis and at other select times, indicating whether the plan's prescription drug coverage is creditable or non-creditable. |
Two New Model COBRA Notices Available from the DOL(posted: Tuesday, February 11th, 2020) The Department of Labor (DOL) has released updated versions of its model COBRA General Notice and model COBRA Election Notice, both with an expiration date of Jan. 31, 2023. |
DOL Releases New Model Employer CHIP Notice(posted: Tuesday, February 11th, 2020) The Department of Labor (DOL) has released a new model Employer CHIP Notice with information current as of Jan. 31, 2020. |
Virginia Employers Must Provide Itemized Wage Statements to All Employees(posted: Thursday, February 6th, 2020) The requirement Became Effective January 1 Beginning this year, employers in Virginia must provide their employees with an itemized wage statement each regular pay date. Before this requirement became effective, Virginia employers were required to provide wage statements only upon |
Maryland Enacts “Ban the Box” Law(posted: Wednesday, February 5th, 2020) Law Takes Effect Feb. 29, 2020 Maryland has enacted a "Ban the Box" law. Highlights of the law are presented below. Covered Employers The new law applies to Maryland employers with 15 or more full time |
Employers Must Begin Using New Form I-9 by May 1(posted: Monday, February 3rd, 2020) The New Form Will Expire on Oct. 31, 2022 On Jan. 31, 2020, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a new version of Form I 9 Employment Eligibility Verification. The previous version of this form expired Aug. |
New Jersey Expands Wage Statement Requirements(posted: Monday, February 3rd, 2020) New Requirements Become Effective May 20 State law already requires New Jersey employers to notify their employees of their payroll deductions, for each period when a deduction is made. However, on Jan. 21, New Jersey amended its law to require |
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Alerts for January | |
New Jersey Employers To Provide Severance Pay for Mass Layoffs(posted: Friday, January 31st, 2020) New Requirements Become Effective July 19 On Jan. 21, 2020, New Jersey adopted significant changes to the Millville Dallas Airmotive Plant Job Loss Notification Act (New Jersey WARN Act). The New Jersey WARN Act, much like its federal counterpart, the |
Colorado Employers to Comply with New Wage Payment Requirements(posted: Wednesday, January 29th, 2020) The new Overtime and Minimum Pay Standards Order Becomes Effective March 16 On Jan. 22, 2020, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) announced the adoption of the Colorado Overtime and Minimum Pay Standards Order #36 (COMPS 36). COMPS |
New Poster Requirement for New Jersey Employers(posted: Tuesday, January 28th, 2020) The New Poster Must be Displayed by April 1 Employers in New Jersey will need to add an employee classification poster to their required workplace posters and notices by April 1. The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development |
HHS Increases Civil Penalties for HIPAA Violations(posted: Tuesday, January 21st, 2020) Privacy and Security Rule Violations Impacted by Rule On Jan. 17, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a final rule increasing the civil monetary penalties for violations of the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules. HHS is |
DOL Increases Penalties for Group Health Plan Violations(posted: Wednesday, January 15th, 2020) 2020 DOL Penalty Amounts for ERISA Violations Issued The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has increased the penalties employers face under ERISA for group health plan reporting and disclosure failures. These new amounts apply to penalties assessed after Jan. 15, |
DOL Adopts New Joint Employer Determination Test(posted: Tuesday, January 14th, 2020) On Jan. 12, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a new four factor balancing test to determine whether two or more organizations should be considered “joint employers” under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The final rule establishing |
DOL Publishes Guidance on Lump Sum Bonuses and Per-Project Payments(posted: Friday, January 10th, 2020) Opinion Letters Provide an Insight on How the DOL applies the Law to Specific Facts On Jan. 7, 2020 the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued two opinion letters that clarify how the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) applies in |
New York Eliminates Tipped Employee Minimum Wage in Miscellaneous Industries(posted: Friday, January 10th, 2020) New Rate will Phase in Beginning June 30 On Dec. 31, 2019, New York amended its wage order for miscellaneous industries to eliminate the subminimum wage for tipped employees. Please note that the current tipped employee minimum wage rates still |
Temporary Injunction on California AB 5 for Trucking Industry(posted: Tuesday, January 7th, 2020) Temporary Injunction Applies Only to the Trucking Industry A district court in San Diego has issued a temporary injunction to prevent enforcement of California’s recent AB 5 law for the trucking industry. This injunction does not affect other industries and |
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Alerts for December | |
IRS Announces 2020 Standard Mileage Rates(posted: Tuesday, December 31st, 2019) On Dec. 31. 2019, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued the 2020 optional standard mileage rates, which are used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes. |
Washington Increases Threshold for Overtime Exemptions(posted: Tuesday, December 17th, 2019) New Law Becomes Effective July 1, 2020 On Dec. 11, 2019, Washington amended its wage and hour laws to increase the salary threshold white collar employees must satisfy to qualify for the state’s overtime exemption. The amendments also update some |
Pennsylvania Extends E-Verify Requirement to Construction Industry(posted: Tuesday, December 17th, 2019) New Law Takes Effect Oct. 7, 2020 A new law in Pennsylvania law will require employers in the construction industry to use the federal E Verify system to confirm the employment eligibility of new hires. E Verify is a federal |
DOL Updates Regular Rate of Pay Rules(posted: Friday, December 13th, 2019) Final Rule Clarifies What to Include in the Regular Rate On Dec. 12, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), announced a new final rule that clarifies how to calculate an employee’s regular wage rate under the Fair Labor Standards |
DOL Issues 2020 Form W-4(posted: Friday, December 13th, 2019) Employers Must Begin Using the New Form Jan. 1 On Dec. 5, 2019, the Internal Revenue Service released an updated version of its W 4 form, also known as the “Employee’s Withholding Certificate.” Employers use IRS |
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Alerts for November | |
Court Halts San Antonio Paid Sick Leave(posted: Wednesday, November 27th, 2019) San Antonio’s paid sick leave law will not go into effect Dec. 1 as scheduled as a result of a temporary injunction granted Nov. 22. |
DOL Proposes Revisions to Fluctuating Workweek Overtime Method(posted: Wednesday, November 13th, 2019) Comments on Proposed Rule are Due by Dec. 5 On Nov. 5, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a proposed rule to update the “fluctuating workweek” method for calculating employee overtime wages under the Fair Labor Standards Act |
California Increases Overtime Threshold for Medical and Computer Employee Exemptions(posted: Friday, November 8th, 2019) New Requirements Take Effect Jan. 1, 2020 The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) has published updates to the minimum salary threshold that computer employees, physicians and surgeons must receive in order to qualify for the state’s overtime exemptions. The |
2020 QSEHRA Contribution Limit Announced(posted: Thursday, November 7th, 2019) Contribution Limit to Increase in 2020 The IRS has announced that the contribution limit for qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangements (QSEHRAs) will be $5,250 per employee and $10,600 per family in 2020. For 2019, the contribution limit is $5,150 |
2020 Health FSA Contribution Limit Announced(posted: Thursday, November 7th, 2019) Contribution Limit to Increase $50 in 2020 The IRS has announced that the contribution limit for health flexible spending arrangements (health FSAs) will be $2,750 in 2020. For 2019, the contribution limit is $2,700. |
IRS Releases 2020 Retirement Contribution Limits(posted: Wednesday, November 6th, 2019) The IRS has announced that the amounts employees can contribute to 401(k)s and some IRAs will increase in 2020. |
Alerts for October | |
HHS Rescinds Health Plan Identifier (HPID) under HIPAA(posted: Tuesday, October 29th, 2019) On Oct. 25, 2019, HHS released a final rule that officially withdraws the HPID requirement. |
Washington's Domestic Violence Poster Is Now Available(posted: Thursday, October 24th, 2019) New Law Took Effect July 28 Last May, Washington adopted a new law requiring employers to display a poster about domestic violence. The poster was published recently by the Washington Employment Security Department (ESD) and it includes instructions employees can follow |
DOL Proposes New Method for Electronic Delivery of Retirement Plan Disclosures(posted: Thursday, October 24th, 2019) On Oct. 23, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a proposed rule that would allow plan administrators to make retirement plan disclosures available on a website. |
Florida Announces 2020 Minimum Wage Rate(posted: Wednesday, October 23rd, 2019) Florida has announced an $8.56 minimum wage rate for 2020. |
California Strengthens Lactation Accommodation Protections(posted: Friday, October 18th, 2019) California has adopted a new law that strengthens lactation accommodation protections for employees. The new law becomes effective on Jan. 1, 2020 and is similar to San Francisco’s lactation accommodation law. |
South Dakota Announces 2020 Minimum Wage Rate(posted: Tuesday, October 15th, 2019) The South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation announced that the state minimum wage rate will increase $9.30 per hour on Jan. 1, 2020. |
Vermont Announces 2020 Minimum Wage Rate(posted: Monday, October 14th, 2019) Vermont has announced that the state minimum wage rate will increase to $10.96 per houron Jan. 1, 2020. |
DOL Proposes to Amend Employee Tip Regulations(posted: Thursday, October 10th, 2019) On Oct. 8, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a proposed rule to amend employee tip regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act. |
Montana Announces 2020 Minimum Wage Rate(posted: Thursday, October 10th, 2019) On Sep. 30, 2019, the Montana Department of Labor and Industry announced that the state minimum wage rate will increase from $8.50 to $8.65 per hour. |
Ohio Announces 2020 Minimum Wage Rate(posted: Tuesday, October 8th, 2019) New Rate Becomes Effective on Jan. 1 Ohio has announced a new minimum wage rate of $8.70 per hour for nonexempt employees. The state minimum wage rate applies to employers that gross $319,000 per year or more. The |
Alaska Announces 2020 Minimum Wage Rate(posted: Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019) New Rate Becomes Effective on Jan. 1 The state of Alaska has announced a minimum wage rate of $10.19 per hour for 2020. The minimum wage in the state is adjusted annually using the Consumer Price Index for urban consumers |
California Adopts New Worker Classification Standard(posted: Tuesday, October 1st, 2019) California has adopted a new law that changes the process for determining whether a worker should be classified as an employee or independent contractor. |
Alerts for September | |
DOL Issues New Salary Limits for Overtime Exemptions(posted: Tuesday, September 24th, 2019) On Sept. 24, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a new final rule that updates the salary thresholds that some individuals must meet in order to qualify for a minimum wage and overtime exemption under the federal Fair Labors Standards Act (FLSA). |
Reminder: Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 are Key Massachusetts PFML Deadlines(posted: Thursday, September 19th, 2019) The end of the month marks important employer deadlines for Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML). |
Minnesota Announces $10 State Minimum Wage for Large Employers(posted: Tuesday, September 17th, 2019) Minnesota Announces $10 State Minimum Wage for Large Employers |
New York State Requires Employee Leave for Domestic Violence Victims(posted: Friday, September 13th, 2019) New York state has amended its Human Rights Law, effective Nov. 18, 2019, to require employers to provide leave to employees whom the employer knows are victims of domestic violence. |
Reminder: Medicare Part D Notices Are Due Before Oct. 15(posted: Thursday, September 12th, 2019) Employers whose health plans offer prescription drug coverage to Medicare-eligible individuals must provide a Medicare Part D Creditable or Non-Creditable Coverage Notice to those individuals before October 15. |
Illinois Expands Applicability of Discrimination Laws(posted: Wednesday, September 11th, 2019) A recent change in the law will expand anti-discrimination provisions to employers with at least one employee. |
New York State Announces Paid Family Leave Rates for 2020(posted: Wednesday, September 11th, 2019) The New York State Department of Financial Services has announced that for calendar year 2020, employers may deduct 0.270% of an employee’s weekly wage, up to an annual cap of $196.72, to pay the premium cost for state paid family leave insurance. |
Reminder: SAR Deadline is Sept. 30 for Form 5500 Filers(posted: Tuesday, September 10th, 2019) Employers required to provide plan participants with a Summary Annual Report (SAR) must do so by Sept. 30, 2019, if they sponsor calendar year plans. The SAR is a summary of the plan’s Form 5500. |
Illinois Enacts Strict Workplace Harassment Laws(posted: Monday, September 9th, 2019) Effective Jan. 1, 2020, all employers in Illinois must provide annual employee training on workplace sexual harassment prevention. |
Washington Enacts Employee-Paid Long-Term Care Program(posted: Monday, September 9th, 2019) Washington state has passed legislation to establish a state-operated public insurance program for long-term care. |
Reminder: EEO-1 Component 2 Reports Due Sept. 30(posted: Monday, September 9th, 2019) EEO-1 filers must submit Component 2 data (on employee compensation and hours worked) for calendar years 2017 and 2018 by Sept. 30, 2019, via a designated online portal. |
California Extends Sexual Harassment Training Deadline to Jan. 1, 2021(posted: Thursday, September 5th, 2019) California employers with five or more employees now have until Jan. 1, 2021, rather than Jan. 1, 2020, to comply with new sexual harassment prevention training requirements. |
California Swaps Email for Web in Reporting of Serious Workplace Injuries(posted: Tuesday, September 3rd, 2019) On Aug. 13, 2019, California adopted a new law that will require employers to report cases involving a serious injury or illness, or death to the Division of Occupational Safety and Health by phone or through a specified online mechanism that will be established by the state for this purpose. |
Oregon Adopts Equal Pay Law(posted: Tuesday, September 3rd, 2019) Beginning Jan. 1, 2020, Oregon state law will prohibit employers from paying different wages to employees solely because they belong to a protected class. |
Colorado Adopts Temporary Rules to Protect Wage and Hour Rights(posted: Tuesday, September 3rd, 2019) On Aug. 20, 2019, Colorado adopted temporary rules to strengthen employee protections under the state’s wage and hour laws. These temporary rules are also being proposed as permanent amendments to the law. |
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Alerts for August | |
New York State Bans Salary History Inquiries(posted: Thursday, August 29th, 2019) On July 10, 2019, New York enacted a new law that prohibits all employers in the state from asking job applicants and employees about their past salaries or wages. |
New Jersey Bans Salary History Inquiries(posted: Thursday, August 29th, 2019) New Jersey has adopted a new law that prohibits all employers in the state from asking job applicants about their past salaries or using past pay information to screen applicants for employment consideration. |
Illinois Bans Salary History Inquiries(posted: Tuesday, August 27th, 2019) Beginning Sept. 29, 2019, Illinois employers are prohibited from requesting a job applicant's salary history. |
Illinois Adopts Video Interview Law(posted: Tuesday, August 27th, 2019) The Illinois Artificial Intelligence Video Interview Act applies to employers that ask applicants to record video interviews for positions based in Illinois and use artificial intelligence analysis on the video. |
DOL: Employees May Use FMLA Leave for IEP Meetings(posted: Friday, August 23rd, 2019) Employees may take leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to attend their child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings, according to a recent opinion letter from the U.S. Department of Labor. |
New York Expands Employee Protections Against Harassment and Discrimination(posted: Thursday, August 22nd, 2019) On Aug. 12, 2019, New York adopted a new series of measures that expand the scope of employee anti-harassment and anti-discrimination protections. |
New York Adopts Equal Pay Law(posted: Friday, August 16th, 2019) New York Adopts Equal Pay Law |
Maine Passes Expansive Paid Employee Leave Law(posted: Thursday, August 15th, 2019) Maine’s earned employee leave law allows employees to earn one hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked. This paid leave may be used for any reason. |
California Expands Definition of Racial Discrimination(posted: Friday, August 2nd, 2019) The California legislature has added that racial discrimination also includes discriminating on the basis of traits and characteristics that are historically associated with race. |
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Alerts for July | |
Oregon Adopts Pregnancy Accommodation Law(posted: Wednesday, July 31st, 2019) Oregon Adopts Pregnancy Accommodation Law |
New Jersey Adds Protections for Medical Marijuana Users(posted: Wednesday, July 24th, 2019) New Jersey Adds Protections for Medical Marijuana Users |
New Law in Maine Provides Veterans Medical Leave(posted: Tuesday, July 23rd, 2019) New Law in Maine Provides Veterans Medical Leave. |
HDHP Preventive Care Benefits Expanded(posted: Friday, July 19th, 2019) A new IRS notice expands the list of preventive care benefits that may be covered by a high deductible health plan (HDHP) without a deductible, or with a deductible below the minimum for HDHPs. |
Connecticut Enacts Paid Family and Medical Leave Law(posted: Friday, July 19th, 2019) Connecticut Enacts Paid Family and Medical Leave Law |
Nevada Adopts Employee Paid Leave Law(posted: Thursday, July 11th, 2019) Nevada Adopts Employee Paid Leave Law |
Oregon Amends Family Leave Law to Allow Organ and Tissue Donations(posted: Thursday, July 11th, 2019) Oregon Amends Family Leave Law to Allow Organ and Tissue Donations |
EEO-1 Component 2 Online Filing System Opens July 15(posted: Thursday, July 11th, 2019) The EEOC has announced that the online filing system for EEO 1 Component 2 data will be available for all filers July 15, 2019. |
Illinois Legalizes Recreational Marijuana(posted: Tuesday, July 9th, 2019) Illinois legalizes recreational marijuana. |
Connecticut Expands Sexual Harassment Training to All Employees(posted: Tuesday, July 9th, 2019) Connecticut expands sexual harassment training to all employees. |
Executive Order Signals Changes to HDHPs, FSAs, and ‘Eligible Medical Expenses’(posted: Monday, July 8th, 2019) President Trump’s June 24 executive order on health care transparency addresses expanding access to high deductible health plans and flexible spending accounts, as well as broadening the definition of "eligible medical expenses." |
Oklahoma Bans Marijuana in the Workplace(posted: Monday, July 8th, 2019) Smoking regulations now apply to all marijuana products. |
Alerts for June | |
Nevada Increases Minimum Wage(posted: Thursday, June 27th, 2019) Nevada increases minimum wage rate. |
Alabama Enacts Law to Reduce Wage Gaps, Bar Salary History Requirements(posted: Wednesday, June 26th, 2019) Alabama Enacts Law to Reduce Wage Gaps, Bar Salary History Requirements |
Oregon Extends Anti-Discrimination Protections(posted: Friday, June 21st, 2019) Oregon extends anti-discrimination protections. |
Connecticut’s Minimum Wage Rate Will Increase to $15 by 2023(posted: Friday, June 21st, 2019) Connecticut’s Minimum Wage Rate Will Increase to $15 by 2023. |
Massachusetts Delays Paid Family and Medical Leave(posted: Thursday, June 20th, 2019) Massachusetts Delays Paid Family and Medical Leave. Employers must begin collecting contributions on Oct. 1, 2019. |
Nevada Employers Can’t Deny Employment Because of Positive Marijuana Test(posted: Wednesday, June 19th, 2019) Nevada has adopted a new law that prohibits employers from failing or refusing to hire an applicant because of the applicant’s positive marijuana drug test result. |
Colorado Limits Criminal History Inquiries(posted: Wednesday, June 19th, 2019) Effective Sept. 1, 2019, job postings and applications may not exclude applicants with criminal histories. |
Final Rule Allows HRAs that Reimburse Individual Health Premiums(posted: Monday, June 17th, 2019) A final rule lets all employers offer health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) to pay for employees’ individual health insurance policy premiums, under certain conditions. |
HIPAA Enforcement Guidance Issued for Business Associates(posted: Thursday, June 13th, 2019) The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has issued a fact sheet explaining when a business associate can be directly liable for compliance with the HIPAA Privacy, Security, Breach Notification, and Enforcement Rules. |
Colorado Extends Smoking Prohibitions to Electronic Products(posted: Wednesday, June 12th, 2019) Colorado has amended its workplace smoking prohibition to include a ban on electronic smoking devices, effective July 1. |
Colorado Prohibits Wage Discrimination and Salary History Inquiries(posted: Wednesday, June 5th, 2019) On May 22, 2019, Colorado enacted the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. |
Colorado Requires Employers to Notify Patrons of Tip-Pooling Practice(posted: Monday, June 3rd, 2019) Beginning August 2, 2019, employers can implement a tip-pooling system among their employees only if they notify patrons, in writing, that a tip-pooling arrangement exists in the establishment. |
Sexual Harassment Training is Now Mandatory in Washington(posted: Monday, June 3rd, 2019) Sexual harassment training is now mandatory in Washington for hotels, motels, retail establishments, security guard entities and property service contractors. |
Westchester Co. in New York Adopts Paid ‘Safe Time Leave’ Law(posted: Monday, June 3rd, 2019) Beginning Oct. 30, 2019, in addition to paid sick time, employers in New York’s Westchester County, will need to provide up to 40 hours of paid leave to employees who are victims of domestic |
Alerts for May | |
Maine Employers Prohibited From Asking for Applicants’ Social Security Numbers(posted: Friday, May 31st, 2019) Beginning January 1, 2020, Maine employers can ask for an applicant’s Social Security number only for substance abuse testing or pre-employment screening purposes. |
Oregon Extends Lactation Break Requirements(posted: Thursday, May 30th, 2019) Beginning Sept. 29, 2019, all Oregon employers will need to provide reasonable accommodations to lactating employees. |
Tennessee Restricts Immunity to Positive Drug Test Results to Six Months(posted: Wednesday, May 29th, 2019) New Law Effective May 10, 2019 On May 10, 2019, Tennessee restricted the immunity for employees who test positive to a drug test because of the use of prescribed medications. Under the new law, immunity covers only medications prescribed during |
IRS Releases 2020 Health Savings Account Limits(posted: Tuesday, May 28th, 2019) The IRS has announced the 2020 inflation adjusted amounts for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) as determined under the Internal Revenue Code. Annual Contribution Limitation For calendar year 2020, the |
Maryland Adopts Organ and Bone Marrow Donation Employee Leave(posted: Tuesday, May 28th, 2019) New Law Effective October 1, 2019 Maryland has a new law that provides employees up to 60 days of leave for organ donation or 30 days of leave for bone marrow donation. To qualify for this leave, |
New York City Bans Pre-employment Marijuana Screening(posted: Tuesday, May 28th, 2019) New York City has enacted an ordinance that prohibits employers from requiring job applicants to submit to pre-employment marijuana testing, effective May 10, 2020. |
Washington Bans Wage and Salary Inquiries for Job Applicants(posted: Thursday, May 23rd, 2019) Washington has adopted a new law, effective July 28, 2019, that prohibits employers from seeking information about an applicant's wage or salary history. |
Florida Prohibits Vaping in Enclosed Workspaces(posted: Monday, May 20th, 2019) Florida has amended its smoking laws to prohibit vaping, as well as smoking (which was already prohibited), in enclosed indoor workplaces. |
Arizona Amends Mini-COBRA Law to Apply to Fewer Employers(posted: Monday, May 20th, 2019) Beginning July 27, 2019, Arizona employers with 1-19 employees that offer a fully insured group health insurance plan will be required to comply with the state’s mini-COBRA law. |
Oklahoma Extends Voting Leave to In-person Absentee Voting(posted: Tuesday, May 14th, 2019) On May 6, 2019, Oklahoma amended its voting leave law to require employers to allow employees 2 hours of leave to cast their ballots on the day of an election or on a day legally designated as an absentee voting day. |
San Francisco Minimum Wage to Increase July 1(posted: Tuesday, May 14th, 2019) Starting July 1, 2019, the minimum wage rate in San Francisco will increase to $15.59 per hour. |
San Francisco Minimum Wage Increase(posted: Tuesday, May 14th, 2019) Starting July 1, 2019, the minimum wage rate in San Francisco will increase to $15.59 per hour. |
EEOC Will Collect 2017 and 2018 Pay Data(posted: Monday, May 6th, 2019) The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) is advising employers subject to the EEO-1 filing requirement to begin preparing to submit Component 2 data for calendar year 2017. |
NM: New Law Limits Adverse Employer Actions on Medical Marijuana(posted: Friday, May 3rd, 2019) Under a new law, effective June 14, 2019, New Mexico employers are generally prohibited from taking an adverse employment action against an applicant or employee based on conduct allowed under the state medical marijuana law. |
New Mexico Employers Prohibited From Making Certain Arrest and Conviction Inquiries(posted: Friday, May 3rd, 2019) Under a new law, New Mexico employers generally may not inquire about an applicant’s arrest or conviction history on a written or electronic employment application. |
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Alerts for April | |
Employers Must Report EEO-1 Pay Data by September 30(posted: Tuesday, April 30th, 2019) EEO-1 filers should begin preparing to submit information about their employees’ 2018 pay and work hours ("Component 2" data) by September 30, 2019. |
Maine Employers May Not Inquire About Prospective Employees’ Compensation History(posted: Tuesday, April 30th, 2019) Under a new law, Maine employers are generally prohibited from using or inquiring about a prospective employee’s compensation history from him or her or a current or former employer. |
Clarifying California's Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Requirements(posted: Thursday, April 25th, 2019) In 2018, California passed new sexual harassment prevention training requirements that impact California employers with 5 or more employees. To clear up misconceptions regarding those requirements, read this quick summary. |
NM: Employers Must Soon Permit Employees to Use Sick Leave for Family Member Care(posted: Wednesday, April 24th, 2019) Under a new law, all New Mexico employers that provide employees with sick leave will generally be required to permit them to use the leave to care for family members, effective June 14, 2019. |
Westchester County, NY Releases Key Information on Sick Leave Law(posted: Friday, April 12th, 2019) Westchester County, NY has released important new guidance on its sick leave law. |
Many New Jersey Employers Must Soon Offer Pre-Tax Transportation Benefits(posted: Wednesday, April 10th, 2019) Under a new law, New Jersey employers with 20 or more employees will soon be required to offer pre-tax transportation benefits to their employees. |
New York Employers Must Now Provide 3 Hours of Paid Voting Leave(posted: Tuesday, April 9th, 2019) As a result of a new law, New York employers must provide 3 hours of paid voting leave to their employees for any election. Additionally, employees must notify their employers of their need for time off to vote at least 2 working days before Election Day. |
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