The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a final rule aimed at modernizing and enhancing the H-1B visa program. This rule goes into effect next week, on January 17, 2025.
At its core, the H-1B program is a U.S. visa program that allows employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialty occupations. A U.S.
On Monday, December 16, 2024, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals (covering Georgia, Florida and Alabama) issued a significant decision addressing whether a non-employee spouse is required to arbitrate a claim regarding statutory benefits provided by the employer, even when the employee is required to arbitrate. Lubin v Starbucks Corporation, 2024 WL 5113125 (11th
On November 8, 2024, in Siren Retail Corp d/b/a Starbucks, the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) tightened restrictions on what employers can say to workers about the impact of unionization. In making this ruling the NLRB overruled its 1985 decision in Tri-Cast, Inc., which held that most employers’ statements about the impact of
On April 23, 2024, the U.S. DOL announced a final rule in which the salary threshold for the executive, administrative, and professional (EAP) overtime exemptions increased on July 1, 2024, to $844 per week ($43,888 annually). The salary threshold was set to increase again on January 1, 2025 to $1,128 per week ($58,656 annually).
Today
In a significant November 13, 2024 decision, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled in Amazon.com Services LLC that an employer violates the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) by requiring employees to attend anti-union meetings. The NLRB overruled its 1948 decision in Babcock & Wilcox Co., clarifying that such “captive-audience” meetings violate Section
California’s 2023-2024 legislative session just concluded, and California employers will want to be aware of the following new employment laws that take effect January 1, 2025, unless otherwise noted:
Social Compliance Audits. Effective January 1, 2025, AB 3234 adds sections 1250-1251 to the Labor Code and requires employers to post on their internet website
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Retail Worker Safety Act (“RWSA”) into law earlier this month, extending workplace safety measures applicable to many retail employers statewide. The RWSA, which applies to any employer with 10 or more employees selling consumer goods (not including food to be consumed on premises), requires covered employers to develop
After issuing a narrow party-specific, preliminary injunction against enforcement of the non-compete rule in July, the same Texas court issued broader, permanent relief in a ruling issued today in Ryan, LLC v. FTC. Specifically, the court ruled (in granting a motion for summary judgment brought by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and others) that the
Passed late last year, the Freelance Isn’t Free Act (the “Act”) is expected to go into effect on August 28, 2024. The Act extends protections for freelance workers across New York State and mirrors protections in New York City’s Freelance Isn’t Free Law.
The Act defines a freelance worker as any person or single-person
Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (“BIPA”) has produced some of the largest jury verdicts ever seen in employment law. These verdicts, some of which exceed $100 million, result from employers’ use of biometric devices without proper notice to employees. Relief from these crushing verdicts is in sight, though, as a result of a recent amendment