Compliance Stuff

  States and cities are as busy as ever passing new workplace regulations throughout the calendar year. Here is our mid-year report summarizing the notable labor and employment laws that take effect from roughly July through October.  Arkansas Bill / Ordinance / Regulation Main Topic Summary Effective Date Arkansas HB 1643   Background Checks Authorizes an employer to disclose substantiated allegations of sexual abuse or harassment by a current or former employee to a prospective employer upon written consent from the current or former employee. 8/4/2025 Arkansas SB 139 Healthcare Noncompete Agreements Provides that a noncompete agreement that restricts the right of a physician to practice within the physician’s scope of practice is unenforceable. 8/4/2025 Arkansas HB 1854 Home Caregiver Training Exempts home caregivers from home caregiver training if they provide documentation of having previously completed the training. 8/4/2025 Arkansas SB 279   Unpaid Wages Provi...

Explore how background checks play a crucial role throughout the entire employee lifecycle, from hiring to retirement. Learn how they mitigate risk, ensure compliance, and build a trustworthy workplace. The employee life cycle spans from the moment a candidate applies to a position until their retirement or departure from the company. Throughout this journey, background checks serve as crucial tools for maintaining workplace safety, ensuring compliance with regulations, and protecting company assets.  Organizations that implement thorough background screening processes not only during hiring but at strategic points throughout the employee lifecycle reduce risk and strengthen their workforce quality. Background checks take different forms at various stages of employment. Initially, pre-employment screening helps companies verify a candidate’s identity, education, work history, and check for criminal records. As employees advance in their careers, periodic re-screening may become nec...

  Act creates new rules regarding criminal background checks The  New York State Clean Slate Act  (the "Act") went into effect Saturday, November 16, 2024, bringing with it new obligations for New York employers who rely on criminal background checks. Under the Act, certain criminal convictions will be automatically sealed after specified periods of time. In light of these changes,  employers must be particularly mindful of the criminal history information being considered in connection with hiring or an employees' continued employment. Employer Obligations Under the Act Employers must comply with more stringent notice obligations under the Act. While employers were already required to provide a copy of Article 23-A of the New York Correction Law as part of the background check process, they must now also provide a copy of the criminal history information they receive to applicants and employees, and notify applicants and employees of "their right to seek correction ...

  The Prince George’s, Maryland County Council recently enacted Bill CB-019-2024, amending the county's Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards. Effective September 16, 2024, the ordinance—renamed “Access to Employment for Returning Citizens” —significantly restricts employers' ability to conduct criminal background checks on job applicants . Changes to the law include a smaller threshold for employer coverage, expanded limitations on employer inquiries into applicant criminal histories, and expanded protections for employees. Employer Coverage Threshold The ordinance now applies to employers with 10 or more full-time employees in the county, a reduction from the previous threshold of 25 employees. Expanded Limitations on Employer Inquiries of Applicant Criminal History Under the amended ordinance, covered employers are prohibited from asking about or investigating a job applicant’s criminal history until after the initial interview. Even after the initial interview, employer...