On March 22, 2024, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law that amends the state’s Child Labor Law to allow minors sixteen and seventeen years of age to work more hours.
As Temperatures Start to Rise, OSHA Takes Steps to Implement Rules Concerning Heat Illness Prevention
For a number of years, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has promised a heat injury and illness prevention standard. To date, proposals related to heat injury and illness in outdoor settings have been put forth, though enforcement efforts have not always been so limited. On April 3, 2024,
Washington State and Seattle Paid Sick and Safe Leave Updates
The first quarter of 2024 has brought multiple updates to the State of Washington’s and the City of Seattle’s respective paid sick leave laws, addressing concerns for commercial construction workers, app-based gig economy workers, and any workers subject to a paid time off (PTO) program. Employers may want to take
OSH Law Primer, Part IV: The General Duty Clause
This series of articles is intended to provide the reader with a very high-level overview of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and how both influence workplaces in the United States. By the time this series is complete, the reader should
DHS Announces Artificial Intelligence Pilot Program to Modernize Immigration Processes
On March 18, 2024, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an initiative to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into its daily operations, signifying a shift toward modernizing and enhancing the efficiency of immigration processes.
FDIC Seeks to Restrict Noncompete Agreements in Bank Mergers
Quick Hits On March 21, 2024, the FDIC unveiled proposed revisions to its Statement of Policy (SOP) on Bank Merger Transactions, which was last amended in 2008. The revisions would increase scrutiny of bank mergers, particularly mergers involving large banks with $100 billion or more in assets. A small, but
Weed at Work: Can Georgia Employers Still Drug Test?
Across the United States, a broad legal spectrum has developed regarding the use of marijuana, thus creating great uncertainty among employers that have long striven to maintain drug-free workplaces. Federally, marijuana still is classified as a prohibited Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substance Act. In recent years, many states
Fifth Circuit Finds That Employee Failed to Provide Adequate Notice of Need for FMLA Leave
On March 19, 2024, in Cerda v. Blue Cube Operations, LLC, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed a district court’s grant of summary judgment for an employer, finding that the employee’s acts of informing her supervisor of her father’s serious ailments, coupled with telling human resources
White House Publishes Revisions to Federal Agency Race and Ethnicity Reporting Categories
On March 28, 2024, the White House unveiled revisions to the federal statistical standards for race and ethnicity data collection for federal agencies, adding a new category and requiring a combined race and ethnicity question that allows respondents to select multiple categories with which they identify.
Washington State Updates and Clarifies Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation Law
The 2024 Washington State Legislature passed Substitute Senate Bill (S.S.B.) 5935 in February 2024, and Governor Jay Inslee signed the bill into law on March 13, 2024, updating and clarifying Washington law regarding restrictive covenants (RCW 49.62 et seq.). The new provisions take effect on June 6, 2024.
OFCCP Sets New VEVRAA Hiring Benchmark for 2024
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced on March 28, 2024, that the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA) national annual veteran hiring benchmark is 5.2 percent, beginning March 31, 2024.
California Clarifies Fast Food Minimum Wage Law Taking Effect April 1; Governor OKs Stadium, Airport Worker Exemption
With California’s new $20-per-hour minimum wage for fast food workers set to take effect on April 1, 2024, the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) has updated its guidance regarding the new minimum wage law’s impact on exempt managers and which employers and employees are covered. The move comes as
Employers Face New Area of Potential Liability in Genetic Information Privacy Claims
Employers are facing new potential legal risks under the federal Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) and the Illinois Genetic Information Privacy Act (GIPA) over inquiries in routine employment physicals in what could be the next battleground for employers over technical requirements of privacy legislation.
Minnesota Legislative Update 2024: Employment Law Bills Cover ESST, Human Rights Act, Pay Disclosure, and Restrictive Covenants
The Minnesota Legislature is back in session and actively addressing employment law legislation in several pending bills following a very busy 2023–2024 session last year. The legislature kicked off its 2024 regular session with a slew of employment-related bills presenting both opportunities and challenges for employers. Here is a preview
The Practical NLRB Advisor: Spring 2024
Ogletree Deakins’ Traditional Labor Relations Practice Group is pleased to announce the publication of the Spring 2024 issue of the Practical NLRB Advisor.