With the US House of Representatives passing the so-called Speak Out Act two weeks ago, the measure was presented to the White House yesterday for President Biden’s signature. He is expected to sign the measure. The bipartisan bill, S.4524, passed by the Senate in September, makes pre-dispute non-disclosure agreements unenforceable. Once signed by the President,…
Read More »A federal judge in Texas has invalidated a non-binding guidance issued unilaterally by Chairwoman Charlotte Burrows of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) regarding LGBTQ rights in the workplace. The guidance, issued in June 2021, advised that employees must be allowed to use a restroom that corresponds with their gender identity and that regularly using…
Read More »Beginning on October 1, a number of changes will take effect with the DC Universal Paid Leave program which employers must be aware of. Among the changes which were adopted in July, the maximum duration of paid leave benefits is increased to 12 workweeks for qualifying parental leave (up from 8 weeks), increased to 12…
Read More »A few weeks ago, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the launch of a new toll-free confidential hotline for reporting sexual harassment at the workplace. The hotline, which will be administered by the New York State Department of Human Rights (NYSDHR), was authorized by legislation signed into law back in March. The hotline (1-800-HARASS-3) went…
Read More »Aside from the increasing municipal and county minimum wages, Chicago recently amended its sexual harassment laws and introduced new requirements effective July 1, 2022 on all employers in the Windy City. The expanded policy requires employers to have a written policy on sexual harassment that includes the following: statement that sexual harassment is illegal in…
Read More »As expected, President Biden last week signed into law the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021. The law, which went into effect immediately upon the President’s signature, amended the Federal Arbitration Act to prohibit mandatory arbitration in sexual assault and harassment cases, thereby allowing victims to bring their dispute…
Read More »Congress has passed legislation invalidating and rendering mandatory arbitration clauses unenforceable in cases relating sexual harassment or sexual assault disputes. With passage, the bill was sent to the White House where President Biden is expected to sign it into law. Once enacted, it will apply to “any dispute or claim that arises or accrues on…
Read More »As we get ready to close out the summer months, there are a number of dates approaching where new laws – or changes to existing laws – will become effective that you need to be aware of. We’ve previously advised you that effective September 1, the sexual harassment laws in the state of Texas will…
Read More »Pregnant workers in Arizona will see their civil rights expanded on July 19, when new changes to the Arizona Civil Rights Act take effect. Back in February, Governor Doug Doucey signed House Bill 2045, amending the Arizona Civil Rights Act to mirror existing protections under the federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, which amended Title…
Read More »Aside from minimum wage increases, the calendar is replete with different changes on a seemingly monthly basis that you need to be aware of. Among these, we would point out that a change in employment law took effect yesterday in the Commonwealth of Virginia imposing a requirement that most employers must now include information in…
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