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
As many large employers in California have experienced, it is all too common to have separate employees file duplicative PAGA actions in separate courts covering the same alleged claims on behalf of the same group of employees. PAGA, of course, refers to the Private Attorneys General Act—a unique California law that allows an employee to
As we previously reported, in April of this year, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) issued a final rule regarding non-compete agreements. The FTC’s rule operates as an almost complete ban on such agreements. Unless enjoined by a court, the rule is scheduled to take effect on September 4, 2024. Since April, several lawsuits have been
Last year, California enacted a law (SB 525) raising the minimum wage for many healthcare workers to as much as $25 per hour. The minimum wage hikes were scheduled to take effect June 1, 2024. However, California has a huge budget deficit, which makes compliance with the increased wages a challenge for the state. Because
California’s Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”) was passed in 2007 and has operated primarily as a means to provide massive revenue to the state and to Plaintiffs’ attorneys. Over the past decade or so, the statute has been the predominant vehicle for shakedown lawsuits against employers. Virtually every year, certain business-minded legislators introduce bills to