Washington employers must display a new workplace poster under the state's Immigrant Worker Protection Act. The state Attorney General's Office released the poster, along with model employee notices and employer guidance, on Sept. 1, 2026, ahead of the law's Oct.…
The Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a new opinion letter addressing when walking time during a meal period affects compensability under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The issue: Whether a 60-minute unpaid lunch, with six to 14 minutes…
Oregon's companionship services exemption is narrowing for home care agencies under Senate Bill 1518. SB 1518 freezes the state's definition of companionship services to the federal definition in effect Jan. 1, 2016, so future federal changes won't automatically expand the…
In June 2025, Rhode Island became the first state to pass a law requiring workplace protections for employees experiencing menopause. Now, two more jurisdictions – Illinois and Philadelphia – are following Rhode Island’s lead with laws that expand protections for…
Can exempt nonprofit staff "volunteer" after hours to do additional work for their employer? A new Department of Labor opinion letter, issued in response to a nonprofit that raises service dogs, says yes – if the volunteer duties aren’t the…
Effective Oct. 1, 2026, Public Act 26-12 will require Connecticut employers with 100 or more employees to create a guide explaining their overtime and commonly used pay-differential codes, such as shift, on-call, hazard, call-back, holiday, weekend and geographic pay. Where…
Effective Jan. 1, 2027, Washington's SB 5217 extends the Healthy Starts Act to employers of any size – dropping the current 15-employee threshold to one or more employees – and adds new compliance obligations for lactation and pregnancy accommodations. Lactation…
Despite the hype, artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t making much of an impact on payroll -- at least not yet. A new Zoho Payroll survey of more than 100 US payroll professionals found only 7% of payroll teams said AI was…
Trader Joe’s has agreed to pay $12.47 million to settle a proposed class action lawsuit alleging violations of California’s wage and hour laws. According to the complaint, Trader Joe’s: Rounded time punches, resulting in employees being underpaid Excluded “Thank You”…
In Arkansas, a jury has awarded more than $100,000 to a male surgical technician who filed an EEOC charge alleging he was discriminated against because of his sex. The six-figure verdict is a reminder that federal Title VII protects all…
An urgent care facility in Georgia has agreed to pay $113,199 to resolve alleged violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). According to an investigation by the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Premier Health Consultants…
Mark your calendar: National Payroll Week returns Sept. 7-11, 2026, to recognize the role payroll professionals play in making sure workers are paid accurately and on time. The annual observance, founded by PayrollOrg in 1996, also highlights payroll’s broader role…
Treasury and the IRS have issued proposed regulations outlining requirements for employer Trump Account contribution programs. Trump Accounts are a new type of individual retirement account for certain individuals under age 18. Since July 4, 2026, employers have been permitted…
New Jersey's Employer Response Portal for unemployment separation reporting is now live, under P.L. 2022, c. 120 (S2357). Employers must report every employee separation to the Division of Unemployment Insurance within seven days of the separation date, or within seven…
Federal and state laws tend to dominate compliance discussions, but local ordinances carry serious financial consequences, too. Case in point: The City of Seattle’s Office of Labor Standards (OLS) recently announced its second-largest enforcement action ever – a nearly $4.4…
When layoffs occur, the immediate concerns are often understandably front and center. But employers also need to take a longer view of the compliance obligations that can arise before, during and after a workforce reduction. A recent settlement out of…
HRMorning, part of the Rover Insights Network, provides the latest HR and employment law news for HR professionals in the trenches of small-to-medium-sized businesses. Rather than simply regurgitating the day's headlines, HRMorning delivers actionable insights, helping HR execs understand what HR trends mean to their business.
