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

UK Government Consults on Zero Hours Contracts Reforms Guaranteed Hours Offers tgelbman@littler.com Mon, 07/06/2026 - 09:22

Thomas Hubert, a partner in the Labor & Employment Practice Group, and Jacob Pritt, an associate in the Labor & Employment Practice Group, co-authored the article "The cost of waiting: why…

Takeaways The EEOC voted to rescind its 1979 interpretive guidance on voluntary affirmative action under Title VII and the related EEOC Compliance Manual Section 607. The EEOC said the guidance was inconsistent with the text of Title VII and subsequent Supreme Court precedent. The rescission reflects the EEOC’s continued shift away from prior agency positions on affirmative action and DEI-related employment practices. Links EEOC Votes to Rescind Affirmative Action Interpretive Guidelines and Re…

On July 1, 2026, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released a draft strategic plan for fiscal years (FY) 2026–2030 that signals a marked shift from the agency’s current FY 2022-2026 plan, particularly in how it measures systemic enforcement and frames its own workforce priorities. The comment period on the draft strategic plan closes July 19, 2026.

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

Many California employers devoted significant time and resources to complying with California’s workplace violence prevention law before it took effect on July 1, 2024, through SB 553. They drafted Workplace Violence Prevention Plans, trained employees,

California Embraces the Federal Arbitration Act: Legislature Imports FAA Exclusions into the California Arbitration Act On June 30, 2026, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2155 (AB 2155), amending California Code of Civil Procedure section 1281 to provide that arbitration agreements are unenforceable under the California Arbitration Act (CAA) “to the extent” they would be unenforceable under the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA). The new law takes effect January 1, 2027. tgelbma…

On June 29, 2026, the Superior Court of New Jersey Appellate Division ruled that employees can bring a representative action under state wage-and-hour laws without meeting stricter class action criteria.

TakeawaysThe New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection’s final rules implementing the 2026 amendments to the Earned Safe and Sick Time Act adopted several notable revisions that impose additional administrative and recordkeeping obligations on employers effective 07.23.26. The final rules clarify various aspects of the new unpaid 32-hour leave entitlement, including the interplay with more generous paid leave policies and reinstatement obligations upon rehire.Organizations shou…

Washington State Published Updated Notice for Fair Chance Amendments Effective July 1, 2026. As previously reported, amendments to Washington's Fair Chance Act became effective July 1, 2026 for employers with 15 or more employees.