In this installment of our Workplace Strategies Watercooler 2026 podcast series, shareholders Tina Bengs (Chicago/Indianapolis), Joseph Cartafalsa (New York), and Michael Riccobono (Morristown) walk through a comprehensive compliance checklist covering mandatory leave and accommodation obligations for disability, pregnancy, and religion, along with family and medical leave laws. The speakers also
Articles on U.S. Labor, Employment, Benefits & Immigration Law
2026 Is a Reporting Year Under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
Companies with twenty or more employees in Ontario must file an accessibility compliance report under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) by December 31, 2026.
FCA Retaliation Claims: Employer ‘To Dos’ in the Critical Hours After a Hotline Call
TakeawaysThe risk of FCA retaliation complaint is rising as courts broadly interpret protected activity (including internal complaints), heightening employer exposure and underscoring the need for strong compliance and anti-retaliation programs.The first 72 hours after a complaint are critical. Employers should separate investigations from employment decisions, assign roles early, preserve evidence, and assess timing and comparators to reduce litigation risk.Recent case law reinforces the importance of complaints signaling potential fraud on the government to qualify for FCA protection, providing a key defense for employers.Related linkLewis v. AbbVie Inc.Article
DOJ Opinion Finds EEOC Title VII Disparate Impact Guidelines Unconstitutional
TakeawaysThe DOJ analysis bolsters EEOC’s shift away from disparate impact liability theories of employment discrimination. The DOJ memo proposes stricter limits on disparate impact claims.Related links
France Releases an Amended Draft Law to Implement the Pay Transparency Directive
France Releases an Amended Draft Law to Implement the Pay Transparency Directive
Although France has missed the June 7, 2026 deadline for transposing the EU Pay Transparency Directive into national law, the government recently released a revised draft of such a law. Below are the key features of the draft
Federal Court Invalidates $100K H-1B Fee
Federal Court Invalidates $100K H-1B Fee
On Monday, June 8, 2026, a federal judge in Massachusetts invalidated the $100,000 fee for new H-1B visas,1 determining that President Trump lacked the authority to impose a tax on this visa program for highly skilled workers.
tgelbman@littler.com Thu, 06/11/2026 – 13:04
Federal Contractor DEI Ban Under Fire Again: State Coalition Targets Agency Rollout
On June 10, 2026, a coalition of twenty states and the District of Columbia filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland challenging federal agency actions taken to implement Executive Order (EO) 14398, the Trump administration’s March 26, 2026, order barring federal contractors and subcontractors from
World Cup Fever at Work: Does German Workers’ Compensation Cover Injuries During Staff Soccer?
Germany’s Hanover Social Court (Sozialgericht Hannover) ruled on April 16, 2026 (Ref. No. S 22 U 120/25, not yet final) that a torn cruciate ligament sustained during an employer‑organized soccer tournament was not a work‑related accident because the tournament did not qualify as a company‑sponsored group event under statutory accident
World Cup 2026’s ‘Hydration Breaks’ Highlight Employers’ Duties to Prevent Heat Hazards
Soccer fans may notice something different about the matches at the 2026 World Cup (June 11, 2026–July 19, 2026), as FIFA has mandated three-minute water breaks midway through each half of each match due to the heat and humidity of summer weather in host cities in Canada, Mexico, and the
Third Circuit Rejects “Overtime Gap Time” Claims Under FLSA
Third Circuit Rejects “Overtime Gap Time” Claims Under FLSA
In a significant development for employers in the Third Circuit, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit recently held that the FLSA does not permit recovery of “overtime gap time” wages. While the decision limits the scope of federal
Policy Week in Review – June 12, 2026
Policy Week in Review – June 12, 2026
House Passes Union-Backed Faster Labor Contracts Act
tgelbman@littler.com Fri, 06/12/2026 – 08:35
Cross-Border Catch-Up: The UK Employment Rights Act—Key Changes and Deadlines (Podcast)
In this episode of our Cross-Border Catch-Up podcast series, Samantha Duncan (Washington) and Justin Tarka (London) tackle the UK’s Employment Rights Act 2025, the most sweeping overhaul of British employment law in decades, with changes rolling out across 2026 and into early 2027. The speakers walk global employers through the
Littler Lounge: Orders Received – A USERRA Compliance Briefing
Littler Lounge: Orders Received – A USERRA Compliance Briefing
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) doesn’t operate like a typical HR policy or leave law – and treating it that way can create risk. In this episode, hosts Nicole LeFave and Claire Deason are joined by Shelley
9th Circuit to State of California: Break Rules Remain Preempted for Some Passenger-Carrying Drivers
In the latest chapter in a decade-long saga to determine if interstate drivers are subject to California’s meal and rest break rules, the Ninth Circuit affirmed that drivers of passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicles are not subject to the state’s break regulations. In People of the State of California ex rel. Xavier Becerra v. Federal Motor… Continue Reading
How can employers prepare for a potential workplace visit by Immigration and Customs Enforcement?
How can employers prepare for a potential workplace visit by Immigration and Customs Enforcement?
How can employers prepare for a potential workplace visit by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)?
Even without advance notice, employers can take meaningful steps now to be ready for a potential ICE workplace visit.
ehubert@littler.com Tue, 06/09/2026