All organizations, no matter how well managed, are vulnerable to claims of wrongful employment practices arising from terminations, discipline, or employee complaints. The jury awards that sometimes result from such claims can run into six figures or more. Adding to the challenge facing employers is a complex regulatory environment where inadvertent noncompliance is all too common.

This notice is to clarify how  in Groff v. DeJoy, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that when establishing an undue hardship in the context of providing reasonable accommodations for employees’ religious beliefs and practices, employers must demonstrate substantial increased costs in relation to the operations of its business.

Colorado has enacted legislation (Senate Bill 23-172), which prohibits discrimination based on marital status, redefines harassment under state law, clarifies the protections for individuals with disabilities, and extends recordkeeping requirements. The changes take effect Aug. 7, 2023.

Georgia has enacted legislation (Senate Bill 129) that amends the rules governing an employee’s entitlement to time off to vote in elections. The changes take effect July 1, 2023.

Hawaii has enacted legislation (Senate Bill 1057), which requires employers with 50 or more employees to disclose in job listings the hourly rate or salary range for the position. Senate Bill 1057 also broadens the state’s equal pay law. The changes take effect Jan. 1, 2024.

Louisiana has enacted legislation (Senate Bill 200), which will require employers with 20 or more employees to provide leave to employees for genetic testing and cancer screening when medically necessary. The changes take effect Aug. 1, 2023.

Michigan has enacted legislation (Senate Bill 147), which prohibits all employers from discriminating against applicants and employees based on the individual’s termination of a pregnancy. The law takes effect on the 91st day after adjournment of the state legislature. The legislature is expected to adjourn in late December of 2023.

It was previously reported that on June 12, 2023, the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) released the final rule  regarding the required minimum wage for app-based restaurant delivery workers. 

New York City has announced that the minimum wage rate requirements for delivery workers of third-party food delivery services scheduled to take effect on July 12, 2023 have now been postponed due to pending lawsuits.

The state of Oregon has enacted legislation (Senate Bill 184) that extends new hire reporting requirements to independent contractors. Senate Bill 184 takes effect on Jan. 1, 2024, and is not retroactive.