Is Your Business Prepared to Comply With New York's Retail Worker Safety Act?

On September 4, 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Retail Worker Safety Act  (the "Act") into law. The Act, which takes effect on March 3, 2025, requires retail employers to develop and implement programs to prevent workplace violence. It also requires retail employers with 500 or more retail employees nationwide to install panic buttons by January 1, 2027. More ›

How the EFAA Applies to Employee Arbitration Agreements in Sexual Harassment Cases Involving Conduct That Preceded the Law’s Effective Date

On August 12, 2024, the Second Circuit held that a plaintiff's hostile work environment claims were subject to the federal Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021 ("EFAA"), even though the plaintiff's claims arose before the EFAA's enactment.

The Court found that pursuant to the continuing violation doctrine, a hostile work environment claim accrues each time a plaintiff continues to experience sexual harassment. More ›

Texas Federal Judge Strikes Down FTC’s Noncompete Ban

On August 20, 2024, Judge Ada Brown of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas set aside and barred the nationwide implementation and enforcement of the FTC’s Final Noncompete Rule. More ›

FTC Faces Setback in U.S. District Court Over Noncompete Rule

On July 3, 2024, Judge Ada Brown of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas preliminarily enjoined the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") from enforcing the Final Noncompete Rule ("Rule") against the parties to the pending lawsuit.

At this time, the prohibition on enforcement of the Rule is limited to the parties to the lawsuit. After additional briefing, the court deferred broader relief to later proceedings and intends to rule on the merits of the claim for injunctive relief on or before August 30, 2024. More ›

What Does New York City's Expanded Anti-Discrimination Protection Mean for Employers?

On May 11, 2024, a new law went into effect, amending New York City Administrative Code §§ 8-109 and 8-502. The law prohibits provisions in agreements that shorten the timeframe an employee has to file a claim for unlawful discriminatory practices, harassment, or violence under the New York City Human Rights Law ("NYCHRL").  More ›

U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Relaxed Standard for Injunctive Relief Under Section 10(j) of the National Labor Relations Act

On June 13, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Starbucks Corp. v. McKinney (National Labor Relations Board), No. 23-367, rejected the arguments of the National Labor Relations Board (the “Board”) to relax the standard that a district court must employ in deciding whether to implement injunctive relief under Section 10(j) of the National Labor Relations Act (the “Act”).  More ›

New York State 2024-2025 Budget Impact on Employers

On April 20, 2024, New York legislators approved the New York State 2024-2025 Budget. The Budget included three amendments to New York Labor Law affecting all New York employers. More ›

Implications for New York Employers: Sarbanes-Oxley Whistleblower Protections Examined by Second Circuit

On March 1, 2024, the Second Circuit affirmed the judgment of the Southern District of New York in Brian La Belle v. Barclays Capital Inc, No. 23-448 (2d Cir. 2024). More ›

The Department of Labor Announces New Final Rule Clarifying Employee Representative Rights During Workplace Inspections

On March 29, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a final rule (Final Rule) amending regulations for workplace investigations. It clarifies that employees may authorize both employees and a non-exhaustive list of third-party non-employees to act as their representative and accompany OSHA Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHO) during physical workplace inspections. More ›

EEOC Announces Final Rule Implementing Regulations to Enforce and Clarify the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

On April 15, 2024, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) published a Final Rule to implement regulations aimed at enforcing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). More ›