Recent Updates

Over the years, employees have filed complaints alleging their employers violated existing nondiscrimination laws by prohibiting them from wearing certain hairstyles. Courts have generally been split on whether restricting certain hairstyles violates laws prohibiting racial discrimination. In response to these cases, several jurisdictions have passed laws that expressly prohibit hairstyle discrimination. Below is a list of locations where these laws have been enacted along with guidelines for workplace grooming and appearance standards.

When an employee asks for time off, employers must determine whether the employee is eligible for a leave of absence under federal, state, or local law and/or the employer's own policy. Below are various factors to consider when making these determinations.

In 2020, federal, state, and local governments enacted numerous employment laws in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to responding to the pandemic, state and local jurisdictions also adopted a number of laws and regulations that affect the way employers hire, pay, treat, and provide benefits to their employees. Given the developments in the last year, here are six compliance trends to watch in 2021.

Many employees are working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and government orders restricting travel and normal workplace operations. Because remote employees aren't clocking in and out at the employer's physical premises, it's increasingly important for employers to ensure that their timekeeping and pay practices comply with federal, state, and local requirements.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has recently published guidance (Field Assistance Bulletin 2020-5) that addresses federal rules for paying remote workers. While the guidance doesn't carry the same weight as a regulation or law, it demonstrates how the DOL intends to enforce federal wage and hour requirements. Below are four key takeaways from the guidance.

Furloughs can be an effective way to cut costs during times of decreased business activity. However, employers should think through the decision carefully with special attention paid to pay, benefits, and other issues. Here are answers to frequently asked questions related to furloughs.

The return to school this academic year will be much different as a result of COVID-19. While some schools will return to the classroom, others will start with distance learning or take a hybrid approach. Depending on the circumstances, these different approaches can trigger employee eligibility for paid leave to care for their children. In this Tip, we address seven scenarios to consider this back-to-school season.

At the beginning of the year, we identified five compliance trends to watch in 2020. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. While the pandemic has played a large role in the types of laws and regulations we've seen over the past few months, earlier trends are still relevant. Below are recent developments in four major employment areas: paid leave, discrimination, minimum wage, and overtime.

Some states have announced plans to ease restrictions that were placed on businesses and individuals as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether or not your business is located in one of these states, you're probably starting to wonder what steps you’ll need to take to safely welcome your employees back into the workplace.