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Proactively supporting workers’ mental health benefits everyone

As the social stigma associated with mental health lessens each year, the rates of formal mental health diagnoses continue to rise. With a formal diagnosis, it becomes easier for a person to navigate a treatment plan and...

Oct 01, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · New York · Great Lakes · Illinois · Indiana · Michigan · Ohio · Wisconsin · Mid-Atlantic · Delaware · Maryland · New Jersey · Pennsylvania · Virginia · Midwest · Arkansas · Kansas · Missouri · Oklahoma · Mountain West · Colorado · Idaho · Montana · New Mexico · Utah · Wyoming · New England · Connecticut · Maine · Massachusetts · New Hampshire · Rhode Island · Vermont · Upper Midwest · Iowa · Minnesota · Nebraska · North Dakota · South Dakota · West · Alaska · Arizona · Hawaii · Nevada · Oregon · Washington

Litigation risks increase as more employers use AI tools in hiring process

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in employment decision-making has continued to rise since its inception. Nowhere is this more evident than in hiring decisions. Employers have used AI to help screen résumés...

Oct 01, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · California · Mid-Atlantic · Delaware · Maryland · New Jersey · Pennsylvania · Virginia · Midwest · Arkansas · Kansas · Missouri · Oklahoma · New England · Connecticut · Maine · Massachusetts · New Hampshire · Rhode Island · Vermont

6th Circuit sets higher standard for employer liability in third-party harassment case

In a recent decision, the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals (whose rulings apply to employers in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee) established a new, higher standard for holding employers liable for harassment...

Oct 01, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · Great Lakes · Illinois · Indiana · Michigan · Ohio · Wisconsin · Midsouth · Kentucky · North Carolina · South Carolina · Tennessee · West Virginia

Supervisor’s remark leads 6th Circuit to revive discrimination claim

Gather round, friends, and let me tell you of a strange story and a strained decision from the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals (whose rulings apply to all employers in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee)....

Oct 01, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · Great Lakes · Illinois · Indiana · Michigan · Ohio · Wisconsin · Midsouth · Kentucky · North Carolina · South Carolina · Tennessee · West Virginia

Political wars in the workplace: What’s an employer to do?

The recent shooting of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk sparked heated media and online discourse right away. Those who agree with the values Kirk expressed mourned his loss. While certainly not true of all...

Oct 01, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · West · Alaska · Arizona · Hawaii · Nevada · Oregon · Washington

Responding to claims of off-site coworker harassment

An employee complains to you that a coworker delivered lewd messages, came uninvited into their home, and made repeated and express physical and verbal sexual advances. You don’t know how to respond? Neither did the HR...

Sep 24, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · California

California Supreme Court gives double win to employee

We have long cautioned that employees have a significant homecourt advantage in labor commissioner hearings and appeals. The commissioners are usually employee-friendly, but whatever they award, the rules make any appeal...

Sep 10, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · California

Give me a break! Meal and rest break requirements governed by state law

Q Are there any exceptions to meal and rest break requirements? Can we allow employees to waive their meal breaks if they work six hours instead of eight? Federal law doesn’t require employers to provide employees with...

Sep 01, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · Midsouth · Kentucky · North Carolina · South Carolina · Tennessee · West Virginia

Affirmative action plans: Are those still a thing?

There have been changes to the requirement for federal contractors to have affirmative action plans (AAPs) since the Trump administration came into office. In Executive Order (EO) 14173 “Ending Illegal Discrimination and...

Sep 01, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · Great Lakes · Illinois · Indiana · Michigan · Ohio · Wisconsin · Mid-Atlantic · Delaware · Maryland · New Jersey · Pennsylvania · Virginia · Midsouth · Kentucky · North Carolina · South Carolina · Tennessee · West Virginia · Mountain West · Colorado · Idaho · Montana · New Mexico · Utah · Wyoming · New England · Connecticut · Maine · Massachusetts · New Hampshire · Rhode Island · Vermont · Southeast · Alabama · Florida · Georgia · Louisiana · Mississippi

DOL announces return of PAID program

The Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced the return of the Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) program. PAID is a voluntary compliance initiative that helps employers resolve inadvertent violations of...

Sep 01, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · California · New York · Texas · Great Lakes · Illinois · Indiana · Michigan · Ohio · Wisconsin · Mid-Atlantic · Delaware · Maryland · New Jersey · Pennsylvania · Virginia · Midsouth · Kentucky · North Carolina · South Carolina · Tennessee · West Virginia · Midwest · Arkansas · Kansas · Missouri · Oklahoma · Mountain West · Colorado · Idaho · Montana · New Mexico · Utah · Wyoming · New England · Connecticut · Maine · Massachusetts · New Hampshire · Rhode Island · Vermont · Southeast · Alabama · Florida · Georgia · Louisiana · Mississippi · Upper Midwest · Iowa · Minnesota · Nebraska · North Dakota · South Dakota · West · Alaska · Arizona · Hawaii · Nevada · Oregon · Washington

Don’t drag your feet on accommodation requests

All day long you give me the runaround When you say something here, You mean something there You give me the runaround Same thing yesterday, Same thing the day before from “Runaround” by Tulsa songwriter J. J. Cale Under...

Sep 01, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · Midwest · Arkansas · Kansas · Missouri · Oklahoma

Minnesota publishes paid family and medical leave rules

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) recently published rules interpreting and clarifying some of the requirements in the state’s paid family medical leave law, which is codified at...

Sep 01, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · Upper Midwest · Iowa · Minnesota · Nebraska · North Dakota · South Dakota

How to conduct meaningful employee performance reviews

A good employee performance evaluation involves thorough preparation, clear communication, and a focus on the employee’s strengths and areas that need improvement. The review should be a two-way conversation, with...

Sep 01, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · California · Mid-Atlantic · Delaware · Maryland · New Jersey · Pennsylvania · Virginia · Midsouth · Kentucky · North Carolina · South Carolina · Tennessee · West Virginia · Mountain West · Colorado · Idaho · Montana · New Mexico · Utah · Wyoming · New England · Connecticut · Maine · Massachusetts · New Hampshire · Rhode Island · Vermont · Southeast · Alabama · Florida · Georgia · Louisiana · Mississippi · Upper Midwest · Iowa · Minnesota · Nebraska · North Dakota · South Dakota · West · Alaska · Arizona · Hawaii · Nevada · Oregon · Washington