As their employees flock to Florida’s famous beaches, water parks, and pools this summer, Florida employers need to look out for a wave of new legislation that became effective on July 1, 2025. While over one hundred new laws are going into effect, what follows is a brief summary of
Articles Discussing General Topics In Florida Employment Law.
On the Menu: Florida SB 606 Serves Up More Rigid Requirements for Restaurants to Disclose Operations Charges
TakeawaysStarting 07.01.26, new disclosure requirements go into effect for restaurants that impose “operations charges.”“Operations charges” are defined in the new law and include gratuities.Notice requirements will affect many points of customer contact, including menus, bills, receipts, and more.Article
Florida’s CHOICE Act: A New Era for Non-Compete and Garden Leave Enforcement
On April 24, the Florida Legislature passed the Florida Contracts Honoring Opportunity, Investment, Confidentiality, and Economic Growth (CHOICE) Act. If signed into law, it will take effect on July 1, 2025. The CHOICE Act represents one of the most significant overhauls to Florida’s restrictive covenant laws in recent years, introducing
Florida’s CHOICE Act Offers Employers Unprecedented Tools for Non-Compete + Garden Leave Agreements
TakeawaysThe Florida Legislature’s recently passed CHOICE Act allows covered non-compete and garden leave agreements to extend for up to four years — double the current amount of enforcement time.The Act makes it significantly easier for employers to obtain an injunction and enforce covered agreements.Employers looking to take advantage of the Act will need to comply with its technical requirements.Article
Florida Bar Urges Law Firms to Adopt Incident Response Plans: A Call to Action for Legal Professionals
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
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