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...

Our Wage and Hour thought leaders have pulled together their top predictions for the new year so that employers can get a head start to 2026. If you want more,  register for our FP Workplace Law Forecast Webinar here . Look for Portal-to-Portal Act Litigation We expect to see a substantial uptick in litigation involving employees who undergo security, wait time, and walk time under the Portal-to-Portal Act (PTPA) . Generally, the federal law clarifies that employees don’t have to be compensated for time spent doing tasks before or after the workday (like clocking out) so long as the task isn’t “integral” to the employee’s job. While not all state wage statutes explicitly incorporate the PTPA, the last five years have seen numerous courts clarify whether it applies to state laws – or provides broader coverage . Major retailers and entities with warehouse presences have faced the most heat. We expect some states will try to clarify whether they follow the PTPA in 2026. Minimum Wage ...

With the federal government shutdown ending, employers need to shift gears fast. Key federal agencies will soon resume normal operations, and we’ll see regulatory action and oversight surge back into motion. This is the moment to move from pause to power-up: review where your organization hit the brakes, identify what got delayed, and prepare for the ramp-up ahead. Here’s what you should expect and what you should do. Mechanics of the Restart With federal funding resumed, many previously “non-essential” agency functions will begin to re-activate. But don’t expect an immediate return to normalcy. Agencies will need to dig out from the backlog created by the longest shutdown in our nation’s history, so you’ll see a gradual ramp-up period for pending investigations, audits, applications, and compliance checks. Officials will likely prioritize high-risk or high-profile issues. For employers, your quiet window is now closed. If your organization postponed compliance initiatives, filings,...

  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.  Vermont Bill / Ordinance / Regulation Main Topic Summary Effective Date Vermont HB 259   Healthcare Requires hospitals to develop a security plan to prevent workplace violence, and to conduct a security risk assessment and staff training. 7/1/2025 Vermont HB 461   Leaves of Absence Expands access to unpaid family and medical leave and provides job-protected leave for reasons related to domestic violence, bereavement, and a qualifying exigency.   7/1/2025 Vermont HB 704 Wage Transparency Requires employers to include a job description and the compensation in each job advertisement. 7/1/2025 Vermont SB 117 Wage and Hour Clarifies how the minimum wage is calculated and the employer penalty amount for unpaid wages. 7/1/2025 Vermont SB ...