Registration for Maryland’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance (“FAMLI”) program is officially open, and Governor Wes Moore is encouraging employers to register as soon as possible.
Employers with at least one Maryland-based employee are required to register. Employers can register through the Maryland Department of Labor’s FAMLI portal. Employers will also need to inform the State whether they will participate in the State Plan or an approved private plan.… Continue Reading
New tri-agency FAQ guidance issued on August 26, 2026, addresses elements of the 2013 wellness program regulations have been the subject of dozens of class actions in recent years. While this non-binding guidance does not amend the existing regulations, it gives courts a window into the agencies’ interpretation of these longstanding wellness program rules.… Continue Reading
Foreign journalists working in the United States, and the media organizations that employ them, should review the significant change in U.S. immigration rules that takes effect September 15, 2026.
For decades, most foreign journalists holding I visa status—the designation the U.S. government gives for media members’ visas—have been admitted to the United States for “duration of status,” or D/S.… Continue Reading
A recent lawsuit filed in the Northern District of California alleges that AI-based tools used to score, rank, and select employees for a reduction in force discriminated against workers on protected leave and those with disabilities. The lawsuit alleges this occurred, in part, because the AI-system’s inputs, such as productivity metrics and “AI-native” ratings, could not be accumulated by employees who were absent or working under various accommodations.… Continue Reading
Our breakout sessions are designed to help you dive deeper into timely, real-world HR and employment law challenges. You’ll be able to choose two sessions, and topics include workplace accommodations, HR legal fundamentals, DEI-related legal risks and enforcement trends, and updates on ERISA and benefit plan litigation.
This advanced session is designed for experienced practitioners who already possess a foundational understanding of workplace accommodation law and are looking to deepen their expertise in handling complex disability, religious, and pregnancy-related accommodation requests under federal and state laws.… Continue Reading
Maryland’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program is quickly approaching, bringing significant new obligations for employers of all sizes. Preparing for FAMLI will require coordination across human resources, payroll, benefits, and legal teams. Employers that plan now will be better positioned to meet the program’s requirements.
On July 29, Ballard Spahr’s Labor and Employment Group hosted a webinar on FAMLI, to provide practical guidance on implementation strategies for employers. … Continue Reading
A recent decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit highlights an important distinction for public employers defending challenges to DEI-related initiatives. That is, opposition to DEI does not automatically establish a viable Title VII claim, but constitutional claims may present different considerations.
Title VII Claims
In Spengler v.… Continue Reading
The Department of Homeland Security has finalized a sweeping regulatory change that eliminates the longstanding “duration of status” (D/S) framework for nonimmigrant visa holders in the F, J, and I classifications. The final rule, announced on July 16, 2026, replaces open-ended admission periods with fixed terms of stay, capped at a maximum of four years for students and exchange visitors.… Continue Reading
Two recent court developments underscore that challenges to the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) are far from over. In one case, a federal court in Washington blocked enforcement of certain grant conditions against a group of local government plaintiffs in relation to Executive Orders 14173 (the “DEI Order”) and 14168 (the “Gender Order”).… Continue Reading
The disparate impact theory of discrimination—under which a facially neutral policy or practice may be challenged based on its effects rather than direct evidence of discriminatory intent—is facing renewed federal scrutiny under the Trump Administration. Three recent actions from the Department of Justice, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Labor reflect a narrower federal approach to effects-based civil rights enforcement, and a departure from historic civil rights enforcement under previous administrations.… Continue Reading