With tax day quickly approaching on April 15, 2024, employers in Pennsylvania may want to take note of a December 2023 state tax law that might have flown under the radar. The law made employee contributions to employer-provided dependent care assistance programs excludable for income tax purposes, retroactive to the
Articles About Pennsylvania Labor And Employment Law.
Update on Medical Marijuana Reimbursements in Pennsylvania ›
The Commonwealth Court has issued multiple opinions addressing payment of medical marijuana and CBD oil prescriptions per the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act
Philadelphia’s COVID-19 Leave Law Expires, but City’s Healthcare Epidemic Leave Benefit Remains on the Books
The City of Philadelphia recently updated its website to make clear that while the city’s COVID-19 leave law expired on December 31, 2023, the city’s Health Care Epidemic Leave Benefit remains in effect.
Philadelphia’s COVID-19 Sick Leave Law Expires
Philadelphia’s COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave law expired on December 31, 2023. As a result, as of January 1, 2024, employers are no longer required to provide additional paid sick leave to employees when they are absent for certain COVID-19 reasons.
That said, employers should be mindful that they may
City of Pittsburgh to Strictly Enforce Paid Sick Days Ordinance, Investigate Food Service Industry
The City of Pittsburgh’s Office of Equal Protection (OEP) has announced that it will begin strict enforcement and compliance checks for local businesses to ensure they are complying with their obligations under the Pittsburgh Paid Sick Days Act (Ordinance). The “compliance campaign” will focus on the food services industry.
Learn more here.
New Pennsylvania Legislation and Philadelphia Ordinance Amendment Tackle Pardoned Convictions, Expunged Records, and Negligent Hiring Liability
Pennsylvania and Philadelphia recently enacted changes that impact employer criminal background screening.
State Law
Enacted on December 14, 2023, and effective February 12, 2024, Pennsylvania’s House Bill No. 689 amends Pennsylvania law relating to the expungement of certain criminal record information and employer immunity when hiring individuals with expunged
Pennsylvania Appellate Court Affirms Summary Judgment in Whistleblower Case
Whistleblower claims of all types generally require proof of three elements; a complaint of conduct believed to be unlawful (protected activity), some form of discipline (an adverse action), and proof that the adverse action was motivated by the protected activity (causation). Oftentimes, the existence of an adverse action (such as
Pennsylvania Court Holds Employer Must Reimburse Out-of-Pocket Costs For Medical Marijuana
A Pennsylvania Court held that an employer violated the state Workers’ Compensation Act (WCA) by refusing to reimburse an employee for out-of-pocket medical marijuana expenses related to a workplace injury. Fegley v. Firestone Tire & Rubber (Workers’ Comp. Appeal Bd.), 2023 Pa. Commw. LEXIS 26 (Commw. Ct. Mar. 17, 2023).
Philadelphia Issues Rules on COVID Paid Sick Leave, and Revises “During COVID” Rules for Regular and Healthcare Employee Paid Sick Leave
On February 28, 2023, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor (PDOL) published regulations concerning three distinct types of job-protected paid leave employers must provide under the Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces Ordinance (PHFWO). This is the third iteration of what PDOL labels its “supplemental regulation” of the PHFWO.
Pennsylvania Expands Definitions of Race, Sex and Religious Creed in Human Relations Act
On December 8, 2022, Pennsylvania’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission approved amendments to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA) and the Pennsylvania Fair Educational Opportunities Act regulations to add a subchapter providing new definitions of race, gender and religious creed under the acts, 16 Pa.
Pennsylvania Federal Judge Tosses Challenge to Employer Jab or Swab Mandate
On August 26, 2022, Chief U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania dismissed a putative class action representing approximately 100 healthcare company employees brought against their employer, Geisinger Clinic. In the suit, the employees challenged their employer’s policy requiring employees
Pennsylvania Adopts New Rules for Tipped Workers and Salaried Employees Who Work a Fluctuating Week to Ensure Proper Compensation for Overtime
On August 5, 2022, prior legislation signed by Gov. Wolf took effect, providing more protections to Pennsylvania workers. Specifically, it includes amendments to the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act at 34 Pa. Code Chapter 231.
August 2022 Updates to Pennsylvania’s Overtime Rules for Salaried Nonexempt Employees
On August 5, 2022, new Pennsylvania state wage-and-hour regulations for tipped and salaried nonexempt workers under the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act (PMWA) go into effect.
Pennsylvania’s New Requirements for Tipped and Salaried Employees: Common Questions
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry has implemented new regulations under the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act (PMWA) that go into effect on August 5, 2022.
Pennsylvania Regulatory Commission Approves Expansive Tipped Employee Regulations
Bucking the standard that has existed under federal law and in most states for decades, tipped employees in Pennsylvania soon will have to earn more than four times as much in tips before their employers may take a tip credit and pay those employees less than the standard minimum wage.