Compliance Stuff

Employer Checklist for July 2026 Here are the top 10 workplace compliance items you should tackle in July 2026, based on the latest labor and employment law updates: _____ Catch up on recent SCOTUS rulings. During the final days of its 2025-2026 term, the Supreme Court issued some key decisions that will affect the workplace. The Court vastly expanded the presidential power to remove members of independent agencies ( read more about Trump v. Slaughter ) and upheld the Trump administration’s termination of TPS Protections for Haiti and Syria ( read more about Mullin v. Doe ). SCOTUS also ruled that states may ban transgender athletes from participating on female sports teams without violating the Equal Protection Clause, and that Title IX allows schools to provide separate women’s and men’s teams defined by biological sex ( read more about Little v. Hecox / West Virginia v. B.P.J. ). _____ Find DOL answers to wage and hour questions + meet new Secretary nominee. The US Department of Lab...

New York lawmakers ended the 2026 legislative session by passing a wide range of workplace bills that could affect severance agreements, employment contracts, job postings, personnel files, wage-and-hour practices, arbitration, artificial intelligence, and workers’ compensation. While none of these measures are law yet, many are expected to be sent to Governor Hochul for consideration later this year. Some of the proposals would take effect immediately if signed, leaving employers little time to update policies, agreements, and compliance practices. Here are the top bills employers should know about and begin preparing for. Note: Even if Governor Hochul signs a bill, she may do so with an agreement that lawmakers will add chapter amendments when they return next session. Employers should confirm final action before treating any proposal as effective. Severance Agreements and Employment Contracts The No Severance Ultimatums Act ( S372A ) Employers offering covered severance agreements w...

The Trump administration has continued its efforts to step back from enforcing “unintentional” workplace bias liability and is focused on intentional discrimination instead. The EEOC announced earlier this month that it would continue to only prioritize enforcement in intentional discrimination cases (known as disparate treatment liability ), with a focus on bias in DEI programs. The agency will not focus on workplace discrimination stemming from a policy or practice that unintentionally discriminates against a population of employees (which is known as disparate impact liability ). Notably, the Department of Justice (DOJ) backed that position in a June 9 memo giving its opinion that the disparate impact theory of liability is likely unconstitutional. According to the DOJ, the government has been holding employers to an unfairly high standard when it comes to defending everyday workplace practices like background checks, skills tests, and education requirements . The DOJ’s position h...

Employers in Philadelphia just received a new tool to help comply with the city’s ban on criminal history inquiries, which was significantly expanded in January. T his year’s changes to Philly’s “fair chance” or “ban-the-box” ordinance covered more employers, clarified key definitions and procedures, and added more robust notice, retaliation, and enforcement provisions. The Philadelphia Commission on Human Rights (PCHR) has now released a document summarizing the ordinance amendments, which can be provided to employees to satisfy the “notice of rights” requirement . Here’s what you need to know about the new model notice, a refresher on your obligations, and a seven-step compliance plan. What Happened? Philadelphia’s Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Ordinance has been in place since 2011. This law – which is also known as a “fair chance” or “ban-the-box” ordinance – puts limits on the questions employers can ask job applicants about their criminal history . The goal is to remo...

Odds are good that someone in your workplace has money riding on the next interest rate decision, election outcome, or season finale of a reality show – and your existing workplace policies might not cover this new trend . Online prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket are booming, with participants spending nearly $5 billion per week and the total annual market estimated to rise to over $1 trillion annually by 2030. But this explosive growth is a new compliance risk for employers, as the line between an informed guess and insider trading can blur fast when employees have access to information the rest of the market doesn’t. What do you need to know about this latest trend, and what three steps should you take to craft an effective workplace policy? What are Prediction Markets? Prediction markets are generally online markets in which participants buy and sell “contracts” tied to some future event . The two most popular sites are Kalshi and Polymarket, but many others exist and ma...