On October 13, 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 51 into law, banning most employment arbitration agreements in California starting January 1, 2020. This new law is expansive in scope but short on certainty, as it raises several questions and will likely face legal challenges.
Articles Discussing Labor And Employment Law In All Fifty Us States And Puerto Rico.
Pennsylvania Moves One Step Closer to Substantially Increasing White Collar Exemption Salary Threshold
In June 2018 the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) issued a proposed rule to substantially increase the salary threshold to qualify as an exempt Executive, Administrative and Professional (EAP) employee under the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act (PMWA), and invited public comment. On October 17, 2019, DLI submitted its final regulation to the state’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) and legislative oversight committees. IRRC will hold a public meeting on November 21, 2019 to decide whether to approve the final regulation. If it is approved, the final regulation would increase the EAP salary threshold under Pennsylvania law to:
Littler Global Guide – Puerto Rico – Q3 2019
Browse through brief employment and labor law updates from around the globe. Contact a Littler attorney for more information or view our global locations.
California Appellate Court Applies Dynamex Retroactively
Introduction: For a little over a year, California employers and courts have been wrestling with the impact of Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court, 4 Cal.5th 903 (2018), which dramatically altered the independent contractor landscape in the Golden State last year. Dynamex upended a long-standing multi-factor test which had been applied to determine if a worker was an employee or an independent contractor, ushering in the new “ABC test.” One of the main unresolved questions left in the wake of Dynamex was whether the new “ABC test” applies retroactively.
New California Law Mandates Enhanced Lactation Accommodations and Significant New Penalties for Employer Non-Compliance
A new California law, Senate Bill 142 (“SB 142”), effective January 1, 2020, expands on existing Labor Code requirements for employee lactation accommodations and provides significant new consequences to employers for non-compliance. Under pre-existing law (Cal. Labor Code 1030 et seq.), employers were required to make reasonable efforts to provide a private location, other than a bathroom, in close proximity to the employee’s work area, for employees to express milk in private and to provide reasonable break time to express milk.
New California Law Attacks Mandatory Arbitration Again … But Is It More Bark Than Bite?
California has joined a number of states in passing legislation purporting to prohibit mandatory arbitration agreements for sexual harassment and other claims. Such laws have gained popularity in the wake of the #MeToo movement, but are subject to challenge under Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) preemption principles.
Shock and Awe! California Employers Face Onslaught of New Regulations
With the usual flurry of activity at the end of the legislative session, California has enacted a slew of bills with labor and employment ramifications.1 Closing out his first year in office, Governor Gavin Newsom signed more than 40 such bills on a wide variety of topics, ranging from antidiscrimination and workplace safety measures to the much-debated worker classification bill (AB 5) codifying the ABC test from last year’s Dynamex case.
CCPA Update: AG Announces Proposed Regulations, Governor Signs Amendments into Law
Lots of action for the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the last few days! After much anticipation, on October 10th, 2019, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra (“the AG”) announced the Proposed Regulations for the CCPA. The next day, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law six amendments to the CCPA. Below is a summary of key aspects of the AG’s Proposed Regulations and the Governor signed amendments.
Legislative Update: Here Are the New California Employment Laws for 2020
Yesterday was the last day for Governor Newsom to sign or veto bills this legislative session. Governor Newsom signed almost every employment bill presented to him by the legislature, including some that had been vetoed in prior sessions by Governor Brown. This blog the list of notable new laws, which take effect January 1, 2020 (unless otherwise noted):
New York City Enacts Legislation Clarifying Independent Contractor Protection under Human Rights Law
While courts have generally interpreted the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL) as providing anti-discrimination protections to individuals performing services as independent contractors, effective in January 2020, amendments to the NYCHRL clarify such protections.
California Consumer Privacy Act FAQs for Covered Businesses
Set to take effect January 1, 2020, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), considered one of the most expansive U.S. privacy laws to date, places limitations on the collection and sale of a consumer’s personal information and provides consumers certain rights with respect to their personal information.
California Requires Large Insurers to Report Board Diversity, Spending with Diverse Businesses
A new California law requires large insurers to report on the demographics of their governing boards and the amounts they spend with businesses owned by minorities, women, LGBT individuals, veterans, and disabled veterans. Under the new law, Senate Bill 534 (SB 534), reporting will be required on a biennial basis beginning on July 1, 2020.
No California Waiting-Time, Inaccurate Wage Statement Penalties Based on Unpaid Meal Period Premiums, Court Rules
Do meal period premiums trigger derivative liability for waiting-time penalties and inaccurate wage statements? The California Court of Appeal has ruled in the negative on the oft-asked question. Naranjo et al. v. Spectrum Security Services, Inc., No. B256232 (Cal. Ct. App. Sept. 26, 2019).
Connecticut Releases Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Guidance
he Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) has released sexual harassment prevention training in accordance with the Time’s Up Act.
New Connecticut Law Requires Policy on Opioid Antagonists at Colleges, Universities
Connecticut has enacted changes to its opioid laws that include requiring institutions of higher education to implement a policy on the availability and use of opioid antagonists for students and staff.