UK Government Consults on Employment Rights for Unpaid Carers and Parents of Seriously Ill Children Background The consultation forms part of the Government’s wider Plan to Make Work Pay. It follows the introduction of the Carer’s Leave Act 2023, which gave employees with caring responsibilities a right to take up to five days of unpaid leave each year to provide or arrange care for a dependent with a long-term care need. This sits alongside other rights such as the right to reasonable time off…

On June 24, 2026, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that he intends to implement the government’s Pensions Commission’s recommendations for comprehensive pension reform by the end of the year.

In this episode, Jen discusses one of the most misunderstood areas of California employment law: English-only workplace rules. She examines when employers may...

What does the EEOC’s repeal of its 2024 harassment guidance mean for employers? On January 22, 2026, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission voted to rescind its 2024 Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace. The rescission followed a federal district court decision concluding that aspects of the Guidance were contrary to law. ehubert@littler.com Tue, 07/07/2026 - 09:39

Commercial Payments Bill Introduced in the UK On May 19, 2026, the UK Government introduced the Commercial Payments Bill to Parliament following its earlier announcement in the King’s Speech. The Bill is designed to tackle persistent late payment and “ excessive delays and unfair practices ” in supply chains, with a particular focus on strengthening protections for small businesses dealing with larger purchasers. tgelbman@littler.com Tue, 07/07/2026 - 08:59

Ontario, Canada Hospitality Employment Law Update – 5 Key Compliance Considerations for 2026 Ontario's hospitality industry faces unique employment law challenges. Restaurants often operate with high workforce turnover, dynamic scheduling requirements, and narrow operating margins. At the same time, employment law obligations continue to evolve and become increasingly complex. As restaurant businesses grow, many operators find themselves navigating issues relating to wages, gratuities, scheduli…

Hawaii has enacted a new law expanding the state’s family leave law to better support military families. Hawaii’s family leave statute will allow eligible employees to take unpaid family leave for qualifying military exigencies connected to a family member’s active-duty service. What the New Law Does Starting July 1, 2026, in addition to the birth or adoption of a child or caring for certain family members with a serious health condition, eligible employees in Hawaii may take up to four weeks o…

TakeawaysMaryland’s Department of Labor published its final regulations implementing the state’s paid family and medical leave insurance law.Payroll deductions and employer contributions begin on 01.01.27, with benefits becoming available beginning 01.03.28. Employers, including governmental entities, should prepare for FAMLI payroll, notice, claims-administration and leave-coordination obligations.Related links

Cal/OSHA Takes Next Step Toward Worker Walkaround Rule On July 1, 2026, Cal/OSHA took another step toward implementing a California variation of federal OSHA’s “worker walkaround rule” 1 by posting proposed modifications to the proposed text and providing a narrow 15-day period for public comment, through July 16, 2026. tgelbman@littler.com Tue, 07/07/2026 - 08:35

As the July 23, 2026 effective date quickly approaches, employers should review and prepare to comply with the recent changes to the New York City Earned Sick and Safe Time regulations. You can read our colleague’s deep dive on the new rules here: From Rulemaking to Reality: NYC’s Finalized Employer ESSTA Obligations Take Effect July 23 – Jackson Lewis

On June 23, 2026, the New York Court of Appeals ruled that public works contractors in New York must pay prevailing wages even when the contract is silent on that matter, and that parties cannot shorten the statute of limitations period governing claims for prevailing wages guaranteed by New York Labor Law § 220.