Latest Highlights

California has enacted legislation (Assembly Bill 1554) that will require employers to notify employees who participate in a flexible spending account of any deadline to withdraw funds before the end of the plan year. Assembly Bill 1554 takes effect Jan. 1, 2020.

California has enacted legislation (Assembly Bill 17) that will expand voting protections for employees. Assembly Bill 17 takes effect Jan. 1, 2020.

California has enacted legislation (Assembly Bill 5) that will broaden the applicability of the ABC test for determining whether a worker is an independent contractor or an employee. Assembly Bill 5 takes effect Jan. 1, 2020. 

California has enacted legislation (Assembly Bill 1804) that will amend rules for reporting an employee's serious injury, illness, or death to the state. The state also enacted legislation (Assembly Bill 1805) that will amend the definition of "serious injury or illness." Both laws take effect Jan. 1, 2020.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has released a final rule to increase the minimum salary required to qualify for certain overtime exemptions. The final rule takes effect Jan. 1, 2020. The DOL estimates that the changes will make about 1.2 million workers newly eligible for overtime, unless employers increase their salaries.

If an employee engages in off-duty conduct that you consider problematic, your first instinct may be to take action. However, there are federal, state and local laws that protect certain off-duty conduct. Read 10 scenarios when you should be cautious before disciplining an employee.