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Legislation signed by outgoing Governor Phil Murphy earlier this month dramatically expands the scope and application of the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA). Under A3451/S2950, effective July 17, 2026, more employers are subject to the law, and more employees qualify for job-protected leave.

In addition, the amendments address the receipt of Temporary Disability Benefits (TDB) and Family Leave Insurance (FLI) and may provide job-protected leave for those who receive these benefits—though questions remain and further guidance is expected on this point.… Continue Reading

After briefly releasing — and then quickly withdrawing — its regulatory agenda last week, the Department of Labor (DOL) has republished its Spring 2025 unified agenda.  According to the DOL’s press release, the Spring 2025 agenda reflects a focus on transparency, deregulatory actions, and clarifying employer obligations across a range of labor and employment issues.… Continue Reading

In a unanimous decision, on May 15, 2024, the New Jersey Supreme Court held that the state’s amendments (Chapter 212) to the Wage Payment Law (WPL) and the Wage and Hour Law (WHL) apply prospectively, and therefore plaintiffs cannot rely on the amendments to recover for any conduct that took place before the amendment’s effective date on August 6, 2019.… Continue Reading

The United States Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued a Field Assistance Bulletin (found here) providing guidance to field staff regarding the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (PUMP Act). We previously summarized the requirements of the PUMP Act in our alert here.

The Field Assistance Bulletin provides detailed guidance on the PUMP Act and includes information and examples as to what employers must do to comply with the new law.… Continue Reading

The U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently updated its technical assistance bulletin and comprehensive COVID-19 resource, titled What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws (available here), calling the additions its “capstone” to the bulletin in light of the recent end to the COVID-19 public health emergency.… Continue Reading

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has signed into law three bills that create new obligations for Minnesota employers.

First, on May 24, 2023, Governor Walz signed a labor appropriations bill prohibiting the use of covenants not to compete against Minnesota employees and employers, with very limited exceptions involving the sale or dissolution of a business.… Continue Reading

Minnesota employers have 43 days to consider whether they want to beat the clock and enact or update non-compete agreements before July 1, 2023.

This week, the Minnesota legislature passed a labor appropriations bill which, if signed by Governor Walz as expected, will significantly restrict the use of non-compete clauses in employment and independent contractor agreements, as well as nearly any agreement entered into by a Minnesota party.… Continue Reading

By Brian D. Pedrow and Shannon N. Attalla

On May 1, in its Lion Elastomers decision, the Board overruled Trump-era precedent (General Motors) that made it easier for employers to discipline workers for outbursts in the context of workplace activism and union-related activity.  The Board reinstated prior precedent (Atlantic Steel and its progeny) that provides more leeway for worker outbursts when engaging in activities protected under the National Labor Relations Act, reasoning that this context is different from ordinary workplace exchanges. … Continue Reading

The focus remains on the National Labor Relations Board’s (Board or NLRB) ruling in February that asking employees to sign separation agreements with confidentiality and non-disparagement clauses is unlawful.  Most recently, the Board urged the Sixth Circuit to enforce its February 21, 2023 decision in McLaren Macomb and Local 40 RN Staff Council, Office and Professional Employees, International Union (OPEIU), AFL-CIO, which found that the company had violated Section 8(a)(1) of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) when it offered a separation agreement to 11 furloughed bargaining members that included a broad non-disparagement provision and a provision treating the agreement as confidential. … Continue Reading

On Monday of last week, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law the “Paid Leave for All Workers Act” (Act) which establishes a minimum paid leave standard for all workers in Illinois, with the exception of certain railway, construction, and student employees. Starting January 1, 2024, employees who work within the geographical boundaries of the state of Illinois will accrue a minimum of one hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked.… Continue Reading