As of 2022, the state of California has new leave requirements for employers. California has expanded the definition of family members to include parents-in-law. The new definition applies to both private and public sector employees with 5 or more employees. The requirement went into effect on January 1.Under existing law, eligible workers in Calif...

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Protections Federal employment law protects employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, according to the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision Bostock v. Clayton County. Now an employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender violates Title VII of the Civil...

There's a new W-4 form effective January 1, 2020, which significantly differs from previous versions. The W-4 is a required document that every new employee needs to complete so employers can properly withhold the correct amount of tax to submit to the IRS. In previous years, employees would select the number of dependents, which would dictate the ...

Effective January 1, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) increased the wage threshold for classifying employees as exempt from overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The threshold has been increased 50% from $455 to $684 per week. Annualized this is equivalent to $23,660 to $35,568 per year for full-time employees. Employees w...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have issued new COVID-19 guidance to employers as of May 2020. The guidance applies to workplaces and employers generally and to specific industries, such as bars and restaurants, manufacturing, child care, schools, and mass transit. CD...

As of September 30th 2020, all New York State employers are required to provide sick leave to their employees under New York State Sick Leave (NYSSL) law. The number of employees entitled to use NYSSL varies depending on organization size and income. To determine an employer's size under the NYSSL, a calendar year is defined as the 12 month period ...

On July 20, 2020, the U.S Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) provided additional guidance about the workplace during the Coronavirus pandemic. The guidance is focused on the following workplace-related legislation: Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA...

Can Employers require these tests?  On June 17, 2020 the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) clarified how employers may screen workers for COVID-19. If an organization decides to utilize any or all the tests make sure COVID-19 testing is implemented consistently, stay within EEOC guidelines and follow U.S. Centers for Disease Contr...

ADA ​The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act (which include the requirement for reasonable accommodation and non-discrimination based on disability, and rules about employer medical examinations and inquiries), continue to apply during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they do not interfere with or prevent employers from follo...