On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order titled, “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government” (the “EO”). The EO declares that “[i]t is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female.” The EO explicitly rejects “gender ideology,” which,
From smart watches to exoskeletons, wearable technologies are quickly changing the landscape of the American workplace. Several states and administrative agencies have responded to this shift by enacting new laws and issuing regulatory guidance concerning the use of such technologies. The latest of these responses includes a fact sheet issued by the U.S. Equal Employment
With the Trump Administration’s renewed focus on immigration, many companies are asking what to expect, and how to respond to a potential raid on their facilities by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”). As enforcement activities continue to unfold, employers should take proactive steps to prepare for possible ICE visits or audits.
On January 21, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.” This Executive Order is a major pivot in federal policy regarding affirmative action and diversity initiatives, which have been in place for decades, particularly within federal contracting. The implications of this Executive Order are far-reaching, affecting both
On January 1, 2025, the statewide minimum wage increased to $16.50 per hour. With the change in the statewide minimum wage, the minimum exempt salary for California employees rose from $66,560 to $68,640 per year.
California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA)[1] allows “aggrieved employees” to sue their employers for Labor Code violations to collect civil penalties “on behalf of himself or herself and other current or former employees.” The issue of how to resolve PAGA claims where the employee and employer are subject to a binding arbitration agreement has
On January 9, 2025, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights issued guidance stating that New Jersey’s anti-discrimination law applies to artificial intelligence. Specifically, the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (“LAD”) applies to algorithmic discrimination – discrimination that results from the use of automated decision-making tools – the same
As Los Angeles (the “City”) grapples with the impacts of the devastating wildfires, employers are facing critical decisions about protecting their workforce while maintaining operations. While Cal/OSHA recently urged employers to protect workers from unhealthy air in Los Angeles County, this article will provide further insight on a variety of the complex legal obligations California
Today, in the matter of E.M.D. Sales, Inc. v. Carrera, the United States Supreme Court held that employers must not meet a heightened standard of proof when defending claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). The decision is a victory for employers defending FLSA actions across the country.
Cell phone and laptop searches do happen but they are relatively rare. Although the Fourth Amendment right to be free of unreasonable searches and seizures is drastically reduced at a port of entry, as are expectations of privacy, U.S. Customs & Border Protection (“CBP”) has internal protocols requiring Officers to have some basis for the
