California Amends Rules for Paid Family Leave Tuesday, December 3, 2024 | California California has enacted legislation that will prohibit employers from requiring that employees use two weeks of accrued vacation time before they can access paid family leave benefits. The change is a result of enactment of Assembly Bill 2123 and takes effect Jan. 1, 2025.
Alaska Votes to Increase Minimum Wage Tuesday, December 3, 2024 | Alaska Alaska voters have approved Ballot Measure No. 1, which increases the state’s minimum wage incrementally. The current minimum wage in Alaska is $11.73 per hour and according to the Alaska Department of Labor website, it will increase to $11.91 on Jan. 1, 2025.
Alaska Bars Mandatory Meetings on Religious or Political Matters Monday, December 2, 2024 | Alaska Alaska voters have approved a ballot measure that prohibits employers from taking adverse action against employees because they refuse to attend an employer-sponsored mandatory meeting that communicates the opinion of the employer about religious or political matters. The changes take effect July 1, 2025.
Massachusetts Expands Sick Leave Requirement Thursday, November 7, 2024 | Massachusetts Massachusetts has enacted legislation that will entitle employees to use sick leave to address the employee’s or their spouse’s needs related to pregnancy loss or a failed assisted reproduction, adoption or surrogacy. The change takes effect Nov. 21, 2024.
Pittsburgh Adds Medical Marijuana Patient Protections Tuesday, November 5, 2024 | Pennsylvania The Pittsburgh City Council has passed Ordinance 2024-0705 (the Ordinance), which prohibits employers from discriminating against medical marijuana patients in the workplace and limits certain marijuana drug testing of these patients. The Ordinance is effective immediately.
Reminder: Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave Contributions and Reporting Start Soon Tuesday, November 5, 2024 | Maine The Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) is reminding employers that contributions and quarterly reporting for the state’s paid family and medical leave program will begin Jan. 1, 2025. The MDOL has also issued a proposed rule to implement the program and updated guidance in the form of frequently asked questions.
Important Dates Approaching for Delaware’s Paid Leave Program Tuesday, November 5, 2024 | Delaware The Delaware Department of Labor is reminding employers of important dates that are approaching for the state’s Paid Leave Program (Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program). The program will be funded through payroll contributions paid by covered employers and employees.
Hawaii Bars Mandatory Meetings on Political Matters Tuesday, November 5, 2024 | Hawaii Hawaii has enacted legislation that prohibits employers from taking adverse action against employees because they refuse to attend an employer-sponsored mandatory meeting that communicates the employer’s opinion about political matters. The changes took effect immediately.
Connecticut to Expand Paid Sick Leave Law Tuesday, November 5, 2024 | Connecticut Connecticut has enacted legislation that will expand the state’s paid sick leave law to eventually cover all employers and employees and make other changes. Currently, the state’s paid sick leave law applies to employers with 50 or more employees in the state, and only “service workers” are entitled to receive paid sick leave. The expansion will occur in phases, with the first phase effective Jan. 1, 2025.
California Health Care Worker Minimum Wage Takes Effect Oct. 16 Monday, November 4, 2024 | California The California Department of Industrial Relations has announced that the minimum wage for covered health care workers will go into effect Oct. 16, 2024. Originally, the minimum wage was supposed to take effect June 1, 2024, but it was delayed twice.