January 1, 2017
• Federal Contractors and paid sick leave. Covered federal contractors must provide employees with up to seven days (56 hours) of paid sick leave per year, including paid leave to care for family members and family-like individuals.
• Federal Contractors see a minimum wage increase. The minimum wage rate that must be paid to workers performing work on or in connection with covered contracts increases to $10.20 per hour. The minimum cash wage that must be paid to tipped employees performing work on or in connection with covered contracts increases to $6.80 per hour.
• Arkansas increases minimum wage. For employers with four or more employees, the minimum wage increases to $8.50 per hour.
• California increases minimum wage. For employers with 26 or more employees, the minimum wage will increase to $10.50 per hour.
• Colorado gives employees right to access personnel files. Employers must permit employees to inspect and receive a copy of their personnel files at least annually.
• Connecticut increases minimum wage. The minimum wage will increase to $10.10 per hour.
• Connecticut restricts criminal history inquiries. Employers are prohibited from asking about a prospective employee's prior arrests, criminal charges, or convictions on an initial employment application.
• Hawaii increases minimum wage. The minimum wage will increase to $9.25 per hour. The minimum wage for tipped employees will increase to $16.25 per hour ($8.50 of which must be in direct cash wages).
• Illinois expands domestic leave. Employers with fewer than 15 employees must provide up to four weeks of unpaid leave to employees who are victims of domestic or sexual violence or who have family members who are victims of such violence. Larger employers were already required to provide this type of leave.
• Illinois requires sick leave policies to cover family members. Employers who provide sick leave must allow employees to use that leave for their covered family members' illness, injury, and medical appointments. Note: This law doesn't require employers to provide paid sick leave, it just expands the leave right if it is already provided.
• Massachusetts increases minimum wage. The minimum wage will increase to $11.00 per hour.
• Michigan increases minimum wage. The minimum wage will increase to $8.90 per hour.
• Montana increases minimum wage. The minimum wage will increase to $8.15 per hour.
• New Jersey increases minimum wage. The minimum wage will increase to $8.44 per hour.
• Ohio increases minimum wage. The minimum wage will increase to $8.15 per hour.
• Tennessee expands E-verify requirements. Employers with 50 or more employees must use E-verify. Employers with 5-49 employees will still have the option to either use E-Verify or request approved documents to verify a new hire's work status
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• Vermont requires paid sick leave. Employers with more than five employees working an average of 30 or more hours per week must provide paid sick leave.
• Vermont increases minimum wage. The minimum wage will increase to $10.00 per hour.
• Washington State increases minimum wage. The minimum wage will increase to $11.00 per hour.
January 31, 2017
California requires new annual notice. Employers must notify employees that they may be eligible for the state's Earned Income Tax Credit.
March 1, 2017
California's all gender toilet facilities law takes effect. Businesses must identify a toilet facility with only one water closet as an all-gender toilet facility.
Indiana adopts the new federal standards workplace injuries and illnesses. OSHA's final rule on electronic reporting of workplace injuries and illnesses requires employers to adopt an electronic recordkeeping system or to transfer all paper records to electronic format for submission. The Indiana final rule incorporates by reference the provisions of the OSHA final rule.
March 7, 2017
New York’s final rule on methods of wage payment takes effect. The New York State Department of Labor (NYDOL) adopted a final regulation setting the conditions by which employers in New York State can pay wages by direct deposit or by debit card.
March 14, 2017
The City of Los Angeles Office of Wage Standards revised its rules implementing the Minimum Wage Ordinance. This includes paid sick leave requirements.
Arkansas enacts legislation increasing flexibility for frequency of the payment of wages to certain job categories. The new law will permit employers to pay wages no less frequently than semimonthly, such as weekly or biweekly.
March 21, 2017
Ohio’s State wide minimum wage and employee scheduling law takes effect. The new law establishes the state of Ohio’s authority over a local government entity to mandate a minimum wage rate; preempts local employee scheduling and fringe benefit laws
Ohio’s Weapons in the workplace law takes effect. The new law permits a concealed handgun license holder to transport and store a firearm or ammunition in certain motor vehicle parking lots.
March 24, 2017
Arkansas bans local minimum wage and employee benefits. The new law prohibits cities and towns from establishing local minimum wages or benefit requirements such as paid sick leave.
March 30, 2017
Iowa bans local minimum wage and employee benefits. Cities and counties in Iowa are prohibited from adopting laws that proved employees with minimum wage and benefits that exceed the requirements of federal or Iowa state law.
April 5, 2017
South Carolina bans employee benefits. South Carolina prevents cities from setting mandates on private businesses to provide employee benefits such as health, disability, paid sick leave, retirement, etc.
May 3, 2017
Pennsylvania law governing payroll cards and direct deposit takes effect. The new law facilitates the use of electronic funds transfer systems by providing that credits to accounts in financial institutions designated by recipients shall satisfy legal requirements for payments by cash or checks.
May 4, 2017
Vermont amended its Fair Employment Practices Act. This law prohibits an employer from failing or refusing to reasonably accommodate an employee's pregnancy related condition.
May 18, 2017
Ohio gun laws expand the rights of concealed carry permit holders. Employees with valid concealed weapons permits now have the right to bring their licensed firearms into company parking lots. Employers can prohibit employees from carrying in company-owned buildings and vehicles.
July 1, 2017
Virginia amends existing data breach notification law. The law now requires any employer or payroll service provider to notify the Virginia Office of the Attorney General after the discovery.
Arizona enacts legislation requiring employers to provide certain employees with earned paid sick time. This will go in effect on July 1, 2017.
Paid Sick Leave becomes effective in Arizona, Chicago and Cook County, Illinois, Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota.
Minimum wage rates increase in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Oregon.
January 1, 2018
New York's Paid Family Leave Law is expected to take effect January 1, 2018.
Massachusetts Pay Equity Law is expected to take effect January 1, 2018.