The New Jersey statewide minimum wage rate will increase to $15.92 per hour from $15.49 per hour for most employees beginning on January 1, 2026, in accordance with annual adjustments required by law.
Archives for October 5, 2025
Beltway Buzz, October 3, 2025
The Beltway Buzz™ is a weekly update summarizing labor and employment news from inside the Beltway and clarifying how what’s happening in Washington, D.C., could impact your business.
Raids, Resistance, And Reality: How Can Employees Work Amid Ongoing Fear?
As raids shatter Black and brown communities, employees are still expected to show up at work. What does ‘business as usual’ mean under these conditions?
California’s Prohibition on Captive Audience Meetings Enjoined By Court
A good development for employers from the district court. At the beginning of the year, Senate Bill (SB) 399 became effective, restricting employers from requiring participation in mandatory meetings addressing religious or political topics, including those concerning labor organizations. Shortly thereafter, several business groups filed a federal lawsuit challenging the
For the Second Consecutive Year, California Expands Reasons Employees Can Use Job-Protected Paid Sick and Safe Time, Unpaid Leave
For the Second Consecutive Year, California Expands Reasons Employees Can Use Job-Protected Paid Sick and Safe Time, Unpaid Leave
On October 1, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 406 to expand the reasons employees can take leave under California’s Healthy Workplaces Healthy Families Act (HWHFA), the statewide paid sick and
Department of Labor Issues Opinion Letter Regarding Employees Who Customarily and Regularly Receive Tips
Department of Labor Issues Opinion Letter Regarding Employees Who Customarily and Regularly Receive Tips
On September 30, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued an opinion letter reaffirming its longstanding approach to determining which employees “customarily and regularly” receive tips for purposes of compliance with Fair Labor Standards Act
How Taylor Swift Is Shaping Workplace Culture
The drop of Taylor Swift’s new album is shaping workplace culture, creating moments for employees to bond, discover shared interests and strengthen connections at work.
Department of Labor Issues Opinion Letter Clarifying “Horizontal” Joint Employment
Department of Labor Issues Opinion Letter Clarifying “Horizontal” Joint Employment
On September 30, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued an opinion letter describing when “horizontal” joint employment will require separate legal entities to be treated as a single employer for purposes of overtime under the Fair Labor Standards
Groups File Suit Over Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
The suit argues that the new fee would harm schools, hospitals, churches and small businesses across the country.
Trump’s $100,000 fee for H-1B worker visas challenged in lawsuit
A coalition of unions and employers filed a lawsuit on Friday seeking to block President Donald Trump’s bid to impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas for high-skilled foreign workers.
‘We are going to destroy jobs faster than we can replace them’: The CEO whose 80% stock plunge personified the dotcom bubble on AI’s impact
“There are a lot of parallels but there are also some spectacular differences,” says former Cisco CEO John Chambers, adding that AI is moving at 5x the speed.
EEOC Realigned: Panuccio Confirmation Ushers in New Era
On October 3, 2025, the U.S. Senate confirmed Brittany Bull Panuccio by a 51–46 vote to serve as a commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for a term expiring in 2029. This confirmation provides Republicans with a majority on the Commission and positions the agency to realign its
Searching for peace at work? Try these easy mini-meditations
One short meditation that can be done almost anywhere involves breathing deeply and mentally scanning your body for sensations.
Policy Week in Review – October 3, 2025
Policy Week in Review – October 3, 2025
Senate Confirms DOL and EEOC Nominees
tgelbman@littler.com Fri, 10/03/2025 – 14:16
Impact of 2025 Federal Government Shutdown on Mine Safety Agencies
Since the government shutdown began on October 1, 2025, many employers have been concerned about its effects on the operations of various federal agencies, including the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission (FMSHRC). The shutdown has impacted both agencies, although to