The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that employers will be allowed to inspect Form I-9 documents remotely in certain situations related to COVID-19 until October 31, 2022. Prior to the announcement, this temporary policy was set to expire on April 30, 2022.

The California Treasurer has published an emergency rule that defines key terms and clarifies employer responsibilities under the CalSavers Retirement Savings Program. The emergency rule took effect immediately.

The state of Washington has enacted legislation (Senate Bill 5671), which amends its Equal Pay and Opportunities Act to add new salary transparency requirements. Senate Bill 5671 takes effect on Jan. 1, 2023.

Virginia has enacted legislation (HB 808) that clarifies that fee of up to a maximum of $5.00 may be charged and withheld by the employer from the employee’s wages (in addition to the amount required to be held for child support) pursuant to an income withholding order.  The purpose of the legislation was to clarify that an employer may charge a fee of less than $5.00.

HB 808 becomes effective July 1, 2022.

Utah has enacted a new law that provides immunity for certain types of employers that hire employees with a criminal background. The new law will automatically expire on July 1, 2025.

The South Carolina Department of Revenue (DOR) has announced that effective June 30, 2022,  it will end the temporary relief regarding a business’s establishment of nexus solely because an employee is temporarily working in a different work location due to COVID-19.

On April 15, 2022, Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed into law House Bill 4002 (HB 4002), which establishes the maximum hours an agricultural worker may work before overtime pay is required. Under current law, Oregon employers are not required to pay overtime to agricultural workers.

Ohio has enacted Senate Bill 47, which exempts from the state’s overtime requirements time spent engaged in traveling to and from a worksite or performing specific tasks.

On April 4, 2022, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled in Reuter v. The City of Methuen that discharged employees must be paid all wages due to the employee including accrued unused vacation time or the employer is liable for treble damages. 

Santa Monica, California  has announced that the minimum wage for the City will increase.