By March 30, 2026, California employers are required to notify existing employees of the opportunity to identify an emergency contact and to allow employees to designate whether the contact should receive notification if the employee is arrested or detained at the jobsite, during work hours, or offsite while performing their job duties, and the employer has “actual knowledge of the arrest or detention of the employee.”
Some employers that rely on staffing arrangements, franchise relationships, or independent contractors may see meaningful shifts in federal labor policy because of a pair of federal agency rulemaking announcements released in February 2026.
Continue Reading Labor Policy Pendulum Swings Again: New Federal Rules Reshape Joint-Employer and Independent Contractor Standards
The legal landscape surrounding religious accommodations and religious discrimination and harassment in the workplace has shifted in recent years.
On Jan. 28, 2026, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Avery v. TEKsystems, Inc. affirmed a district court order refusing to enforce an arbitration agreement rolled out during class litigation.
Continue Reading Ninth Circuit Warns California Employers Implementing Arbitration Agreements Mid-Litigation
Recently, Justices Thomas and Gorsuch have questioned whether the McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792 (1973) framework remains the appropriate standard in certain employment related cases.
On Jan. 17, 2026, then-Gov. Phil Murphy enacted Assembly Bill A-3451/S-2950, which amends the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA), expanding its coverage to impact a greater number of employers
Continue Reading New Jersey Expands Family Leave Act Coverage
On Jan. 8, 2026, the Supreme Court of Virginia upheld a decision to overturn a $2 billion jury verdict in the Appian v. Pegasystems trade secrets dispute, where a unanimous jury found that Pega violated the Virginia Computer Crimes Act and misappropriated Appian’s trade secrets.
Continue Reading Virginia Supreme Court Orders New Trial in $2 Billion Trade Secrets Case
The UK’s Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA), which received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025, introduces wide-ranging reforms to UK employment law.
Continue Reading UK Employment Rights Act 2025: Key Reforms, Timeline, and Practical Considerations for Employers
As California employers head into another year of compliance planning, the Golden State legislature has not slowed down. From higher wage thresholds and expanded pay-equity rules to sweeping changes affecting
Continue Reading ’Tis the Season for California’s New Employment Laws: Employer Considerations for 2026