On May 26, 2023, New York City enacted an ordinance amending the New York City Human Rights Law to ban employment discrimination on the basis of a person’s height and weight.1 This new ordinance further expands the comprehensive list of characteristics already protected by the New York City Human Rights
Articles Discussing Labor And Employment Law In All Fifty Us States And Puerto Rico.
California’s Workplace Violence Bill Passes State Senate and Heads to Assembly
On May 31, 2023, the California Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) No. 553 by a vote of 29–8. The legislation would establish new workplace violence prevention standards in California.
Texas Passes the CROWN Act, Joining 20 Other States in Banning Racial Discrimination Based on Hair Texture or Hairstyle
On May 27, 2023, Governor Greg Abbott signed into law the CROWN Act (House Bill No. 567), making Texas the twenty-first state to ban racial discrimination based on hair texture or hairstyle in schools, employment, and housing.
New Washington Class Action Raises Concerns for Employers Under State’s Noncompete Ban
A putative class action recently filed in Seattle, Washington, against a solar energy equipment company could be the first lawsuit to test the bounds of the state’s relatively new restrictions on noncompetition agreements for lower-wage employees.
Minnesota Enacts Paid Family and Medical Leave Statute
HF 2 creates a paid family and medical leave insurance program funded by employers and employees through payroll deductions. Starting January 1, 2026, employees will be able to take up to 20 weeks of paid family and medical leave per year.
Minnesota Worker Safety Legislation for Meatpacking and Warehouse Industries Signed Into Law
On May 24, 2023, Governor Tim Walz signed Senate File No. 3035, which, among other provisions, amends the Packinghouse Workers Bill of Rights (Minn. Stat. § 179.86), creates new meatpacking workplace safety requirements with the Safe Workplaces for Meat and Poultry Processing Workers Act, and limits the use of quotas
New York Begins Repeal of Healthcare Worker COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate
The New York State Department of Health (the “Department”) announced on May 30, 2023, that “it has begun the process of repealing the COVID-19 vaccine requirements for workers at regulated health care facilities.”
California Local Minimum Wages Increasing on July 1
On January 1, 2023, California’s statewide minimum wage increased to $15.50 for all employers. Depending on where their employees are located within the state, California employers may be facing another minimum wage increase on July 1st.
Several localities in California have minimum wage ordinances that require employers to pay employees working in
Montana Passes 9th Comprehensive Consumer Privacy Law in the U.S.
On May 19, 2023, Montana’s Governor signed Senate Bill 384, the Consumer Data Privacy Act. Montana joins California, Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia in enacting a comprehensive consumer privacy law. The law is scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2024.
When does the law apply?
The law applies to a person
Minnesota Extends Protections and Accommodations for Pregnant and Lactating Employees
On May 24, 2023, Governor Tim Walz signed into law legislation that further expands protections for nursing and pregnant employees in Minnesota. The amendment, included in Senate File 3035, builds on the changes that became effective in January 2022 to Minnesota’s nursing mothers and pregnancy accommodations law (Minn. Stat. §
Fraud Doesn’t Pay in New York – May 2023 Update
The Board has consistently broken down the severity of the violation into essentially two categories: mandatory and discretionary.
New Jersey DOL Takes Steps to Implement the Temporary Workers’ Bill of Rights
Executive Summary: As discussed in our previous Alert, in February 2023, New Jersey enacted the “Temporary Workers’ Bill of Rights,” the most expansive law of its kind in the nation providing “temporary workers” with new rights and protections, including the right to receive pay equal to that of regular employees. This Alert discusses further steps taken by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) in implementing the law.
Finally…Some Vaccine Accommodation Guidance!
So, we finally have some guidance from the California Court of Appeal regarding whether an employer lawfully may terminate an employee for refusing to be vaccinated (in this case, against the flu). Here’s the scoop:
CDF Webinar: The Explosion of ChatGPT & Artificial Intelligence: Top Tips for California Employers
Join Dan M. Forman, Partner and Chair of CDF’s Trade Secret and Privacy Practice Groups, for an exclusive one-hour complimentary webinar focused on providing attendees with invaluable insights and top tips for effectively navigating the legal landscape surrounding ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in relation to trade secrets, privacy rights, and other workplace aspects.
This webinar will explore the new legal challenges and opportunities arising from the exponential growth of ChatGPT and AI for employers. Dan will provide essential insights and top tips for those grappling with compliance challenges under existing California laws presented by ChatGPT and AI technologies. Emphasis will be placed on safeguarding trade secrets, ensuring compliance with employee privacy regulations, and other regulatory requirements while harnessing the power of these innovative technologies.
Key topics covered during the webinar include:
–How ChatGPT and AI Will Impact Trade Secrets
–Proactive Protection of Trade Secrets in the Age of AI
–Compliance with Employee Privacy Regulations in the AI Era
–How to Minimize the Potential Risks of Bias, Discrimination, and Other Ethical Concerns That May Be Associated with AI
–Balancing Innovation and Compliance Should Employers’ Policies and Agreements Incorporate AI provisions
Dan M. Forman, leveraging his over three decades of experience in employment law and evolving technologies, will provide real-world examples, practical tips, and best practices to attendees interested in harnessing the potential of ChatGPT and AI technologies.
Register today to attend this timely and informative webinar that will cover compliance strategies in the ever-evolving era of artificial technology.
CA MCLE, HRCI and SHRM credit pending.
New Washington State Law Will Protect Job Applicants From Discrimination Based on Off-Duty Marijuana Use
Employers in Washington will soon be prohibited from making hiring decisions based on preemployment testing for off-the-job cannabis use or test results showing nonpsychoactive cannabis metabolites in an applicant’s hair, blood, urine, or other bodily fluids. Washington’s new law, Senate Bill 5123, signed by Governor Jay Inslee on May 9,
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