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...

With so many employees working remotely these days, it can be confusing to determine which state they actually work from – and which laws apply to the employment relationship. Is their home office in a different state than the corporate office they report to? Does the employee travel between locations? The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently grappled with these questions under the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) and found that an employee who did not reside or work in Minnesota was  not  protected by the state law . In an April 9 decision, the court said remote work coupled with occasional business travel to Minnesota is  not sufficient  to be classified as working within the state under the MHRA . Here’s what employers with remote staff should know about the ruling in  Kuklenski v. Medtronic USA , what it means for Minnesota businesses, and how it might influence your policies and practices in other states.    What Happened? Taking a deep di...