Expanding Job Opportunities in Financial Institutions for Many with Criminal Records

On December 29, 2022, President Biden signed legislation, which includes the passage of the Fair Hiring in Banking Act. The Act expands job opportunities in banking and financial institutions for those with a previous criminal offense. The new law is in line with a growing number of jurisdictions across the country that have prohibited private…

Goodbye Secret Settlements? National Labor Relations Board Says No to Broad Confidentiality and Non-Disparagement in Severance Agreements

On February 21, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board decided in McLaren Macomb that Employers violate federal labor law if they offer severance agreements that include broad confidentiality clauses and/or non-disparagement clauses. Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act protects workers’ right to engage in “concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or…

Pumping? Your Rights to Break Time and Private Space

On December 29, 2022, President Biden signed legislation, which includes the passage of the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act (“PUMP Act”). PUMP stands for “Providing Urgent Maternal Protections,” and expands the rights of nursing employees to have time and a private space to pump breastmilk at work. The PUMP Act expands coverage to workers in…

Family Medical Leave Can Be Taken in Increments of Less than a Day

On February 9, 2023, the Wage and Hour Division of the United States Department of Labor released an opinion letter clarifying that employees can take leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) in increments, including increments that are less than a full workday. FMLA protects the right of eligible employees to take unpaid,…

The Speak Out Act: Empowering Victims of Workplace Harassment

On December 7, 2022, President Biden signed the Speak Out Act into law. The Speak Out Act aims to empower victims of workplace sexual assault and harassment by limiting enforcement of pre-dispute nondisclosure and nondisparagement clauses in employment contracts. Under the Speak Out Act, employers may no longer enforce nondisclosure and nondisparagement clauses that were…

New York Law to Protect Workers from Retaliation for Taking Sick and Other Leave

On November 21, 2022, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law legislation meant to protect workers from being disciplined for taking protected leave. The law takes effect on February 19, 2023. The new law amends and expands section 215 of the New York Labor Law, which generally provides workers protection from retaliation by their…