Virginia has enacted legislation (Senate Bill 868) that expands nondiscrimination protections to cover sexual orientation and gender identity. Senate Bill 868 takes effect July 1, 2020. Background: Currently, Virginia provides employment protections based on race, color, religion, national ...

The state of New York has launched a loan program (New York Forward Loan Fund) to help small businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The New York Forward Loan Fund will provide loans for working capital. The loans will have an interest rate of 3 percent and a term ...

Maryland employers with 50 or more employees must submit a sexual-harassment-disclosure survey electronically to the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (MCCR) on or before July 1, 2020. Covered employers must complete the survey again on or before July 1, 2022. The requirements were part of ...

The District of Columbia has enacted legislation (Act 23-301) that will require employers to provide paid voting leave. Effective Date: Before the law can take effect, it must go through a 30-day Congressional review period and its fiscal impact must be printed in an approved budget and ...

The District of Columbia has enacted legislation (Act 23-305) that will require employers offering parking benefits to offer employees a transportation benefit, pay a fee, or implement a plan to reduce commuting to work by car. Effective Date: Before the law can take effect, it must go ...

Background: In 2019, Chicago enacted an ordinance requiring certain employers to notify employees of their schedules in advance and pay employees when they provide insufficient notice of schedule changes. To be covered by the ordinance: The employer must employ 100 or more employees ...

Chicago has published rules and enacted two ordinances that will expand coverage under the city's paid sick leave law, create new notice and recordkeeping requirements, and prohibit adverse action against employees because of COVID-19. The changes take effect on July 1, 2020. Expanded ...

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled 6-3 that federal law prohibits employers from discriminating against applicants and employees because they are gay or transgender. Background: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits employers with 15 or more employees from discriminating against ...

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued updated guidance on recording occupational illnesses related to COVID-19. The guidance took effect May 26, 2020 and remains in effect until further notice. Background: Under federal regulations, employers with more than 10 ...

The DOL has issued a final rule that allows employers to offer bonuses or other incentive pay to employees who are paid overtime under the fluctuating workweek method of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The final rule takes effect August 7, 2020. Background: To use the fluctuating workweek ...