On April 22, 2026, Virginia enacted legislation establishing a statewide paid family and medical leave (PFML) insurance program. The program, which will be administered by the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC), will begin collecting payroll contributions on April 1, 2028, and will begin accepting applications for benefits on December 1, 2028. The legislation significantly expands access
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From Punchlines to Prejudice: Confronting Antisemitism in the Workplace
In this episode of Hiring to Firing, hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter use a dark comic sketch from Inside Amy Schumer as a starting point for a serious conversation about antisemitism in the workplace. Joined by Andrew Goretsky, senior regional director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in Philadelphia, they unpack how antisemitic stereotypes, microaggressions,…
ICE Reclassifies Common Form I-9 Errors as Substantive Violations
By Robert Lee & Yane McKenzie
For the first time in more than 10 years, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has updated its Form I‑9 inspection guidance on “technical” and “substantive” violations by publishing a Fact Sheet indicating that many errors that were previously treated as technical, i.e., curable within a 10-business‑day window in the event of an audit, will…
Perms, Pay Equity, and the Power of Experts
In this episode of Hiring to Firing, hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter are joined by Paul White, a partner at Resolution Economics, to demystify the world of expert witnesses in employment matters. Using memorable clips from My Cousin Vinny, Legally Blonde, and The Big Short, they explore what it really means to be an…
Labor + Employment Workforce Watch – April 2026
Labor + Employment Workforce Watch is a guide to the employment law developments most likely to impact your business. The Troutman Pepper Locke Labor + Employment team represents employers in the most sensitive workplace matters, enabling our clients to concentrate on their core business operations. Our team is adept at handling and managing labor and…
Hot Flashes, Cold Policies: Legal and Benefit Strategies for Menopause
In this episode of Hiring to Firing, hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter confront a workplace issue that affects millions but is often ignored: menopause. Joined by psychotherapist, former attorney, and author Lauren Tetenbaum and employee benefits partner Lydia Parker, they discuss how perimenopause and menopause impact employees’ health and workplace performance, and the stigma…
Virginia Enacts New Restrictions on the Use of Noncompetes
Employers will soon be obligated to provide employees with severance benefits if they want to have an enforceable noncompete in Virginia and they also will be prohibited from entering into noncompetes with health care professionals, except in connection with the sale of a business. These obligations and several other new restrictions are part of Senate…
Before You Front the Funds: Benefits and Pitfalls of Earned Wage Access Tools
In this episode of Hiring to Firing, hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter are joined by their Troutman Pepper Locke colleague Carlin McCrory, co-host of the Payment Pros podcast. Together, they explore the emerging world of earned wage access (EWA), or on-demand pay, through the lens of the entrepreneurial reality TV show Shark Tank. The…
Lords, Ladies, and Labor Laws: Downton Abbey and the Modern Employer
In this episode of Hiring to Firing, hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter swap the halls of corporate America for the grand corridors of Downton Abbey, using the beloved British period drama to unpack the real‑world differences between U.S. and UK employment law. Joined by London‑based labor and employment partner Nick Elwell‑Sutton, they use iconic…
Massachusetts Trial Court Holds Quarterly Bonuses May Be ‘Wages’ Under Wage Act
On January 22, 2026, in Pres v. Sensys Gatso USA, Inc., a Massachusetts trial court ruled that the Massachusetts Wage Act (the Wage Act) encompasses quarterly bonuses not conditioned on defined contingencies. This decision highlights the importance of Massachusetts employers identifying and addressing explicit conditions or contingencies in employee bonus agreements. The draconian ramifications of…