Articles About Utah Labor And Employment Law.

The Utah legislature wrapped up its seven-week legislative session on March 1, 2024.  In addition to passing a #MeToo-inspired law prohibiting confidentiality clauses regarding sexual misconduct, the legislature also passed two laws now in effect related to religious expression in the workplace for both public and private employers.

H.B. 396

On May 1, 2024, amendments to Utah’s cybersecurity and data breach notification law took effect.

The state’s cybersecurity and data breach notification law requires an organization that conducts business in the State of Utah to prevent the unlawful use or disclosure of personal information collected by the organization.

Under the

Earlier this year, Utah joined the growing number of states to enact legislation to ban employers from requiring confidentiality clauses or agreements that block employees from speaking openly about sexual misconduct allegations in the workplace.

The Utah Antidiscrimination Act has been amended to expand religious accommodation requirements for employers under Utah law.

Utah joins the growing list of states, including California, New Jersey and New York, enacting their own #MeToo-inspired laws prohibiting confidentiality clauses regarding sexual misconduct. The #MeToo movement seeks to limit confidentiality requirements that would prevent information about serial sexual harassers from reaching potential victims. 

States across the United States have been taking up or passing laws to prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and programming in public schools, colleges, universities, and other institutions, but a bill recently considered by Utah lawmakers raised concerns for private employers as it would have extended such restrictions

The new Utah Vaccine Passport Prohibition legislation (HB 131) prevents most Utah businesses from requiring employees or patrons to be vaccinated for any disease. The new law will take effect May 3, 2023.

Utah H.B. 131 prohibits employers from requiring proof of immunity or vaccination status in making employment decisions. There are limited exceptions, including for federal contractors and jobs with certain vaccination requirements under state or federal law. The new law also extends to places of public accommodation.

On March 14, 2023, Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox signed HB 324 into law amending Utah’s protective order statute to allow employers to petition for and obtain workplace violence protective orders against an individual who has engaged in or threatened potential workplace violence. The law will become effective on

Just as businesses are preparing to ensure compliance with similar laws in California, Colorado, and Virginia, they soon will need to consider a fourth jurisdiction, Utah. On March 24, 2022, Governor Spencer Cox signed a measure enacting the Utah Consumer Privacy Act (UCPA). The UCPA is set to take effect

On March 22, 2022, Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox signed HB 63 into law, amending legislation passed in the Utah Legislature’s second special session of 2021 related to vaccine mandates in the workplace. The law will become effective on May 3, 2022 (60 days from adjournment of 2022 legislative

On November 16, 2021, Governor Spencer J. Cox signed SB2004 into law, placing limitations and additional obligations on Utah employers that have implemented vaccine or testing requirements on employees. The law was passed in the Utah Legislature’s second special session of 2021.

Relief from Employer Vaccination Requirements/Mandates

In mid-March, Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed into law the Cybersecurity Affirmative Defense Act (HB80) (“the Act”), an amendment to Utah’s data breach notification law, creating several affirmative defenses for persons (defined below) facing a cause of action arising out of a breach of system security, and establishing the requirements

In response to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), several states have implemented closure orders, shutting down most of their internal operations and requiring most of the public to stay home, or “shelter in place.” While Utah has not yet joined the list of states doing so, employers in Utah should keep in mind certain new restrictions and recommendations while navigating this national pandemic.

Utah’s medical cannabis program officially launched this month, and the Utah State Legislature timely enacted Senate Bill 121, which amends and clarifies various provisions of Utah’s medical cannabis laws, including a pronouncement that private employers are not required to accommodate the use of medical cannabis.