Employment Law Letter

Q Can we have employees sign an agreement authorizing us to deduct the cost of uniforms from their paychecks? In Colorado, whether a deduction is permissible depends on the type of uniform. If you require clothing with a...

Cell phones are a quintessential tool in modern society, including within the realm of employment. Many employers use various data networks that allow employees to access and store the employer’s data on their own...

On October 30, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) implemented a significant policy shift that directly affects workforce planning and compliance for employers across the country. The agency published an...

Given the charged political climate and the ubiquity of cell phone videos, employers are increasingly grappling with how to respond to employees’ off-duty conduct. In a recent example of this trend, prominent Wisconsin...

Political speech in the workplace has continued to be a hot topic since the 2024 elections. Political speech can be defined as an expression of political views, affiliation, or activities within a professional setting...

On July 4, 2025, as part of Public Law 119-21—aka, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—Congress enacted above-the-line federal tax deductions that a qualifying employee can claim for their tipped income (up to $25,000 per...

With each presidential change, employers are thrust into a ping-pong match of shifting directives. What was required under one administration may be discouraged or even prohibited under the next administration. As Trump...

Q Our expenses have increased because of damaged company property that we’ve had to repair or replace, so we’d like to implement a policy of making deductions from employees’ paychecks for the damages. Do we need to...

For employment law purposes, two companies can be considered a single (or joint) employer under some circumstances. In an opinion letter dated September 30, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour...

Q With regard to wage and hour and leave considerations, what state laws would apply to employees who travel in crews and work on jobsites across the country and don’t consistently work in any one state? This will depend...

“It’s my right”—is the beginning of a sentence supervisors may hear from members of their team. Often, the supervisor in that situation doesn’t know whether the employee’s statement is correct but worries that it may be...

A federal appeals court revived a pregnancy discrimination claim, holding that a supervisor’s statements could show a connection between an employee’s pregnancy and the termination of her employment. Pregnant hospital...

Q Our expenses have increased because of damaged company property that we’ve had to repair or replace, so we’d like to implement a policy of making deductions from employees’ paychecks for the damages. Do we need to...

Enacted in June 2023, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) marks a significant step in ensuring workplace accommodations for pregnant employees and those with related medical conditions. Modeled after the Americans...

Many of us remember the events of May 2020, when Minnesota resident George Floyd tragically lost his life in an interaction with local police. The incident sparked national outrage, resulted in criminal convictions for...