On 26 February 2026, the US Department of Labor (DOL) published a proposed rule (Proposed Rule) that would again modify the framework to determine whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor under the Fair Labor...more
3/9/2026
/ Comment Period ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Economic Realities Test ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) ,
Independent Contractors ,
Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA) ,
Misclassification ,
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) ,
Proposed Rules ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Rulemaking Process ,
Wage and Hour
Artificial intelligence (AI) regulation and litigation are set to take center stage in 2026, as new laws, guidance, and enforcement priorities are introduced at the federal and state levels. ...more
2/3/2026
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Automated Decision Systems (ADS) ,
California ,
Colorado ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Innovative Technology ,
Machine Learning ,
Non-Discrimination Rules ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Risk Management ,
State Labor Laws ,
Transparency
INTRODUCTION -
Workplaces worldwide are experiencing rapid transformation as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into recruitment, performance assessment, and workforce management. Governments...more
1/30/2026
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Cross-Border Transactions ,
Employee Mobility ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Employment Policies ,
Foreign Workers ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigration Procedures ,
International Labor Laws ,
Labor Reform ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Wage and Hour
The Illinois State Legislature wrapped up another busy year enacting and amending a wide range of employment laws. This alert provides an overview of what Illinois employers need to know about key legal developments that may...more
1/8/2026
/ Algorithms ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Employee Rights ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Employment Policies ,
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) ,
Human Rights ,
Illinois ,
New Legislation ,
OSHA ,
Paid Leave ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Reporting Requirements ,
State Labor Laws ,
Transparency ,
Whistleblowers ,
Workplace Safety
On 4 September 2025, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ordered the largest pet cremation company in the United States to stop enforcing noncompete agreements with nearly 1,800 employees....more
On 5 June 2025, the Supreme Court ruled in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services that, in order to establish a Title VII claim, a plaintiff who is a member of a “majority group” is not required to show “background...more
6/16/2025
/ Affirmative Action ,
Ames v Ohio Department of Youth Services ,
Discrimination ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Employment Litigation ,
Reverse Discrimination ,
SCOTUS ,
Sex Discrimination ,
Summary Judgment ,
Title VII
Effective 1 January 2026, Illinois House Bill 3773 (HB 3773) amends the Illinois Human Rights Act, (IHRA) to expressly prohibit employers from using artificial intelligence (AI) that “has the effect of subjecting employees to...more
5/12/2025
/ Algorithms ,
Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Bias ,
Employees ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Illinois ,
Job Applicants ,
New Legislation ,
State Labor Laws
On 28 January 2025, the Acting Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or Commission), Andrea Lucas (Acting Chair Lucas) issued a statement announcing that the Commission is returning to its “mission of...more
In the midst of the multiple executive orders issued in the first days of the Trump administration, on 23 January 2025, the White House issued an executive order entitled Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial...more
As the Trump administration transitioned into power, the White House issued over 25 executive orders in the first days in office addressing a variety of topics including many focused on employment laws. While the flurry of...more
UPDATE: On 8 January 2025, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (FAR Council) officially withdrew its proposed rule that would have (1) barred federal contractors from seeking and using job applicants’ compensation...more
1/24/2025
/ Compensation & Benefits ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Employment Policies ,
Federal Contractors ,
Hiring & Firing ,
OFCCP ,
Pay Discrimination ,
State Labor Laws ,
Title VII ,
Wage and Hour
As previously alerted, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC or Commission) voted 3-2 this past April to publish and issue a final rule that (1) bans for-profit employers from entering into agreements with workers that impose a...more
UPDATE: On 3 July 2024, the Northern District of Texas preliminarily enjoined the US Federal Trade Commission from implementing and enforcing its Final Rule banning non-competes against the US Chamber of Commerce, the...more
On 23 April 2024, the US Department of Labor (DOL) announced a Final Rule raising the minimum salary and annual compensation thresholds to qualify for the executive, administrative, or professional (White Collar) exemptions...more
On Tuesday, 23 April 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC or Commission) hosted a Special Open Commission Meeting, in which the Commissioners voted 3-2 to publish and issue a Final Rule that: bans for-profit employers from...more
On 29 January 2024, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (FAR Council) issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) that would prohibit federal contractors and subcontractors from seeking and considering information...more
3/28/2024
/ Disclosure Requirements ,
Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) ,
Federal Contractors ,
Job Ads ,
Job Applicants ,
Notice Requirements ,
NPRM ,
OFCCP ,
Pay Transparency ,
Salary/Wage History ,
Subcontractors ,
Wage and Hour
Introduction - On 10 January 2024, the US Department of Labor (DOL) published a final rule (Final Rule) that significantly changes the test for determining whether a worker is an independent contractor or employee under the...more
Nearly seven years after first announcing its intent to criminally prosecute employers and individuals for anticompetitive conduct in labor markets, the Department of Justice Antitrust Division (DOJ or Division) voluntarily...more
With the 31 December 2023 effective date for the Chicago Paid Leave and Paid Sick and Safe Leave Ordinance (Ordinance) rapidly approaching, the Chicago City Council passed an amendment on 14 December 2023 (Amendment), which...more
12/22/2023
/ City of Chicago ,
Employees ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Employment Policies ,
Illinois ,
Local Ordinance ,
Paid Leave ,
Paid Sick Leave ,
Recordkeeping Requirements ,
Sick Leave ,
Wage and Hour
On 9 November 2023, the Chicago City Council passed the Chicago Paid Leave and Paid Sick and Safe Leave Ordinance1(the Ordinance). The Ordinance takes effect on 31 December 2023, and replaces Chicago’s current paid sick leave...more
On 11 August 2023, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), a new law that protects the rights of pregnant and...more
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, since 2011, over 400 workers in the United States have died from environmental heat exposure, while thousands of other workers suffered from medical conditions related to...more
Overview - As of 29 June 2023, employers must modify their practices when evaluating requests for religious accommodations under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), because “undue hardship” is no longer...more
Effective 27 June 2023, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) is a new law that closes a gap in coverage under federal law for pregnant and postpartum workers and applicants. This new law guarantees the affirmative right...more
On 18 May 2023, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued nonbinding guidance on how existing federal anti-discrimination law may apply to employers’ use of artificial intelligence (AI) when hiring, firing,...more