Labor Law Updates

As employers grapple with the realities of COVID-19 — and its impact on their day-to-day operations and employee management — it’s important to keep any eye on state-specific COVID-19 leave laws. At the federal level, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) requires employers to provide ...

Did you know that federal and state agencies aren’t the only authorities issuing labor law postings? These days, many cities and counties require businesses to post additional employee notices. Because it’s a fairly new trend, you may not even be aware if you’re affected — or to what extent, if you operate in multiple cities. But for total compliance, you need to add local-level postings to your posting compliance responsibilities.

The federal-level minimum wage hasn’t budged since 2009, remaining at $7.25/hr. a full decade later. On the state level, however, it’s quite a different story. During this time, numerous states and cities have stepped in and passed their own, higher minimum wages. In the past year alone, minimum wage increases took effect in approximately 75 states, cities and counties across the nation. These increases make up the biggest portion of mandatory postings employers must monitor and manage.

When Donald Trump became President, he and the new Republican administration promised a decrease — or even rollback — of federal employment laws and regulations. But has federal deregulation eased the compliance burden? Surprisingly, the answer is no. When federal activity slows, states and cities step in to fill the gaps.

Labor law issues continued to make news in 2017, as state and local governments adopted new legislation at a frenzied pace. The new laws resulted in an array of posting changes, with an emphasis on minimum wage and paid sick leave.