In late March 2025, the Florida Bar Board of Governors unanimously endorsed the recommendation of its Special Committee on Cybersecurity and Privacy Law that law firms should adopt written incident response plans (IRPs) to better prepare for and respond to data security incidents. The recommendation reflects a growing recognition across
Articles About Florida Labor and Employment Law.
One-Time Change: Employers and Carriers Must Go Beyond Simply Authorizing the Benefit
Florida law entitles injured workers to a one-time change in physicians. This one-time change is a procedural right, per Florida Statute 440.13(2)(f). When the change is granted, the employer or carrier must deauthorize the originally authorized physician and authorize an alternative physician within five days. But your responsibility doesn’t stop there.
Florida Legislature Introduces Three New Bills Aimed at Strengthening Florida’s E-Verify Law
Several bills introduced by Florida legislators aim to strengthen Florida’s E-Verify law—particularly by eliminating the twenty-five–employee minimum for use of the database—and include increased penalties for noncompliance. They also add independent contractors to the definition of “employee.” These changes are part of the state’s and the federal government’s continued initiative
Essential Employee Handbook Considerations for Florida Employers in 2025
With a new presidential administration and the start of the 2025 Regular Session of the Florida Legislature, Florida employers face a dynamic landscape of evolving workplace policies and legal requirements. From updates in discrimination and harassment prevention to new leave laws and medical marijuana protections, updating handbooks to stay compliant
A Brief Reminder About the Florida Information Protection Act
According to one survey, Florida is fourth on the list of states with the most reported data breaches. No doubt, data breaches continue to be a significant risk for all business, large and small, across the U.S., including the Sunshine State. Perhaps more troubling is that class action litigation is
Florida Court Rules That the Florida Constitution Required a Public Employer to Accommodate Off-Duty Medical Marijuana Use
A Florida state court recently held that an employer violated the Florida Civil Rights Act by failing to accommodate an employee’s off-duty, off-site medical marijuana use to treat his disabilities. The court granted summary judgment in favor of the former employee, whom the employer had placed on unpaid administrative leave
Florida Court Rules That the Florida Constitution Requires Employers to Accommodate Off-Duty Medical Marijuana Use
A Florida state court recently held that an employer violated the Florida Civil Rights Act by failing to accommodate an employee’s off-duty, off-site medical marijuana use to treat his disabilities. The court granted summary judgment in favor of the former employee, whom the employer had placed on unpaid administrative leave
Management’s Guide to Florida Employment Laws and Processes
Florida largely follows federal employment laws, but under certain circumstances, Florida law provides greater protections to employees over and above its federal counterparts. This guide will highlight a few of these crucial variances to assist Florida employers in ensuring state law compliance and to provide an overview of state-level enforcement of the Sunshine State’s employment laws.
Florida Enacts Two Sweeping Immigration Enforcement Laws
On February 13, 2025, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law two immigration-related bills aimed at assisting enforcement of President Trump’s immigration policies. Below are some key aspects of the new laws.
Florida Enacts Immigration-Related Laws Expanding Law Enforcement, Restricting In-State Tuition, and Increasing Criminal Penalties
On February 13, 2025, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 2-C and Senate Bill (SB) 4-C, immigration-related legislation that addresses a variety of matters, including in-state tuition benefits, new criminal penalties, and law enforcement structure and funding.
Florida Employers Should Consider Accommodations for Off-Duty Use of Medical Marijuana, Court Rules
Florida law requires employers to consider accommodations for off-duty use of medical marijuana, a Florida state court has held and granted the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment. Giambrone v. Hillsborough County, No. 20-CA-4719 (Fla. 13th Cir. Ct. Dec. 10, 2024).
The plaintiff, Angelo Giambrone, was employed by Hillsborough County as
Workplace Safety Concerns for Florida Employers in Anticipation of Hurricane Helene
Tropical Storm Helene is projected to hit Florida’s Gulf Coast as a major hurricane later this week, and evacuations are already underway in parts of the state. Employers are likely to face inevitable workplace safety risks with the storm and recovery.
Florida Federal District Court Enjoins Enforcement of FTC’s Non-Compete Rule Against Real Estate Broker
On August 14, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in Properties of the Villages, Inc. v. Federal Trade Commission entered a limited injunction prohibiting the FTC from enforcing the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) non-compete rule against the named plaintiff, the Properties of the Villages, Inc.
Florida Teachers Union Fails to Upend Law on Dues and Recertification Requirements for Public-Sector Unions
On July 24, 2024, Judge Mark Walker of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida dealt Florida teachers unions a critical blow in their attempt to overturn Senate Bill (SB) 256 regarding public-sector union dues collection and recertification, concluding that all but one of the unions’ challenges
Escaping the “Upside Down” – Halting Florida’s Stop WOKE Act
Two years ago, Florida became the center of widespread media attention with its enactment of a new law, which set out to curb training and teaching relating to inclusion, equity, and diversity (“IE&D”). Since then, there has been a battle in the courts as to the validity of the legislation