Leave policies that allow employees to take leave to care for or assist their sick biological or adopted children must also allow leave to care for a sick foster child.

Several states, cities, and counties will be increasing their minimum wage rates effective July 1^st, 2017.  Please see the attached chart outlining the upcoming changes. Several jurisdictions the rate of pay depends on the size of the employer and/or work location of the employees, and you will have to update your employees rates as needed to ensure you remain in compliance.  Please contact your HR Business Partner or Payroll Service Representative with any questions on these increases.

Coming Soon!

The New York City Council passed the “Fair Workplace” legislative package, which regulates scheduling for fast food and retail employees.  Comprised of multiple separate bills, the legislation acts mostly to restrict fast food and retail employers’ ability to create and modify employee schedules. It also imposes penalties for employer violations, and requires fast food employers to pay specified premiums for scheduling variations that are made outside a delineated time frame.  

The Rhode Island Superior Court holds that an employer cannot refuse to hire a medical marijuana cardholder, even if the individual admittedly would not pass the employer’s pre-employment drug test required of all applicants.

On April 19, 2017, The West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act (“Act”) became law. In addition to permitting patients to use marijuana for medicinal use, the Act contains anti-discrimination and retaliation provision as well as other provisions that impact West Virginia employers.  

Employees with valid concealed weapons permits now have the right to bring their licensed firearms into company parking lots.  You can no longer ban these employees from transporting or storing their firearms or ammunition inside their privately-owned vehicles as long as (1) the firearm is locked in the trunk, glove box, or an enclosed compartment within the vehicle, (2) the firearm and ammunition remain in the vehicle when the employees are in their vehicles, and (3) the vehicles are parked in a permitted location. You can still prohibit employees from carrying weapons in company-owned buildings and vehicles.

The Department of Labor has issued mandatory changes that impact the states of Idaho and Louisiana, which take in March 2017.