On March 26, 2026, President Trump signed an Executive Order (March EO) titled “Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors.” The March EO builds on earlier EOs targeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs which were issued at the beginning of the second Trump administration in January 2025.
Read MoreThe way the federal Department of Labor determines who constitutes an employee versus an independent contractor may be changing. The U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) unveiled a Proposed Rule that would rescind the 2024 independent contractor framework and return largely to a prior model akin to the DOL’s 2021 approach, emphasizing economic independence as the core inquiry.
Read MoreThe New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) recently released an updated Notice of Employee Rights under the NYC Earned Safe and Sick Time Act (ESSTA). The Notice was updated to reflect new employee entitlements to unpaid sick/safe time and paid prenatal leave. You can read more about those updated entitlements in our prior alerts here and here. Employers must distribute the updated Notice to all current employees immediately and all new hires going forward. Employes must also update their workplace posters to include the updated Notice. Note that the updated Notice and guidance use the term “Protected Time Off” to refer to paid and unpaid sick/safe time.
Read MoreAs employers will recall, last year New York State enacted the Trapped at Work Act, which prohibits arrangements in which employees agree to repay certain funds to their employer if they leave employment before a specified date. Amendments to the Act were recently enacted, which postpone the effective date of the Act to at least December 19, 2026 as well as clarify the types of arrangements that are prohibited.
Read MoreThe New York City Commission on Human Rights (the “NYCCHR”) recently released an updated manual on disability discrimination, replacing the April 2019 version. The guide is designed to help employers, housing providers, and the general public better understand the protections afforded to people with disabilities under the New York City Human Rights Law (the “NYCHRL”).
Read MoreRecent developments in New York State and City employment laws continue to shape the legal landscape for employers and employees alike. This client alert highlights several key employment law updates that have a wide variety of implications and ramifications for the workplace in the coming months. While not every change will apply to all employers, awareness and understanding of these laws may help employers anticipate risks, identify opportunities for improvement, and make informed decisions going forward.
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