One of the most difficult decisions an employer can make is to lay off employees. However, sometimes it's a necessary decision for the best interests of the business. When faced with a layoff, consider the following to help you manage the process.

Review the selection criteria carefully.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced that it is tentatively scheduled to begin accepting EEO-1 reports for 2022 via its portal in the fall of 2023. Previously, the EEOC had expected to start the process in mid-July 2023.

The reason for the delay is that the EEOC is currently completing a mandatory, three-year renewal of the EEO-1 Component 1 data collection by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

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.