TakeawaysPhiladelphia has amended its Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards ordinance, with changes going into effect 01.06.26.Among other changes, employers will only be able to consider misdemeanors convictions from the past four years (reduced from seven years) during the hiring or employee management process.Employers should update their procedures and practices to comply with the new law.Related link
Articles Discussing General Topics In Pennsylvania Labor & Employment Law.
PA’s Chester County Creates Human Rights Commission; Employers to Face Expanded List of Protected Classes
TakeawaysNondiscrimination provisions covering employment, housing and public accommodations take effect 12.23.25.Joining a state trend to fill perceived gaps in state and federal protections, the ordinance expands protections based on gender identity, gender expression, and more.The new Chester County Human Relations Commission has investigatory and quasi-adjudicatory authority.Relate link
Philadelphia Passes Additional Amendments to Fair Chance Ordinance
Philadelphia Passes Additional Amendments to Fair Chance Ordinance
On October 8, 2025, with the mayor’s signature, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania enacted additional amendments to its Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Ordinance (FCRSSO).
tgelbman@littler.com Thu, 10/09/2025 – 08:46
Game-Changer: Pittsburgh’s ‘Jock Tax’ Struck Down by PA High Court
On September 25, 2025, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania struck down the City of Pittsburgh’s 3 percent tax on income earned by nonresident athletes while playing in one of Pittsburgh’s publicly funded sports stadiums, finding the tax, often referred to as a “Jock Tax,” violated the state constitution’s requirement for
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Eyes Labor Regulation Via Executive Order
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Eyes Labor Regulation Via Executive Order
With the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) still lacking the quorum necessary to issue decisions, local and state governments, now including Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, are continuing their attempts to fill the gap.
tgelbman@littler.com Wed, 09/10/2025 – 15:26
Upcoming 2026 Pittsburgh’s Amendments to the Paid Sick Days Act
On June 10, 2025, the City of Pittsburgh enacted amendments to its Paid Sick Days Act (PSDA), which will take effect on January 1, 2026. Since March 2020,
It Is Not Always Sunny in Philadelphia for Employers—Meet the POWER Act
On May 27, 2025, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker signed into law Bill No. 250065 —titled, the “Protect Our Workers, Enforce Rights (POWER) Act”—which took effect immediately. The POWER Act amends Title 9 of the Philadelphia Code related to paid sick leave, wage theft, domestic worker protections, fair workweek law,
Pennsylvania Moves Closer to $15 Minimum Wage as Bill Advances to Senate
TakeawaysThe bill aims to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour in the most populous counties starting in 2026, while providing lesser increases in smaller counties.The tipped minimum wage would also increase to 60 percent of the new minimum wages.Annual adjustments based on the CPI would start in 2029.Related linkHouse Bill 1549 Article
The POWER Act: Strengthening Worker Protections
On May 27, 2025, Philadelphia enacted the Protect Our Workers, Enforce Rights Act (“POWER Act”), amending Title 9 of The Philadelphia Code as it pertains to the following sections: “Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces,” “Wage Theft Complaints,” “Protections for Domestic Workers,” “Protecting Victims of Retaliation,” and “Enforcement of Worker Protection
District Court Upholds Browsewrap Agreements in Pennsylvania Wiretap Class Action
Online retailer Harriet Carter Gifts recently obtained summary judgment from the district court in a class action under Pennsylvania wiretap law. At the heart of this case is the interpretation and application of the Pennsylvania Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act of 1978 (WESCA), a statute designed to regulate the
Federal Judge in Pennsylvania Reverses Dismissal of Medical Marijuana Cardholder’s Disability Discrimination Claim
On April 11, 2025, a federal judge for the U.S. Western District of Pennsylvania reversed his recent decision to dismiss a disability discrimination claim from a job applicant with a medical marijuana card who alleged he had a job offer rescinded following a pre-employment drug screen.
Pennsylvania Federal Court Follows State Ruling That Medical Marijuana Use Is Not a Disability Under State Law
A Pennsylvania federal court recently ruled that a job applicant who had a job offer rescinded could not allege disability discrimination under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA) for medical marijuana use as a matter of law. The ruling could be the first instance of a federal court adopting a
Pittsburgh Ordinance Bans Tests for Many Prospective and Current Employees Who Use Medical Marijuana
On September 24, 2024, the Pittsburgh City Council passed a new ordinance prohibiting discrimination against an individual’s status as a medical marijuana patient. Mayor Ed Gainey signed the ordinance the same day, making it effective immediately.
Pittsburgh to Limit Employers’ Ability to Drug-Test Medical Marijuana Patients
The Pittsburgh City Council unanimously passed an ordinance prohibiting discrimination against medical marijuana patients in the workplace and limiting certain types of marijuana drug testing by employers as to these patients. Mayor Ed Gainey is expected to sign the measure and it will take effect immediately after signing.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Bans Healthcare Practitioner Noncompete Agreements Longer Than 1 Year
In a major noncompete development for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, beginning January 1, 2025, certain noncompete agreements with doctors, registered nurses, and other healthcare practitioners will no longer be enforceable in Pennsylvania.