California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law SB 525, which provides a tiered approach for minimum wages for the state's healthcare workers. The law sets forth detailed descriptions of which types of healthcare facilities are covered and which employees are covered by the law.

On October 4, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that he signed SB 616, which expands the state law with respect to paid sick leave.

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law AB 1228, which requires that fast-food workers who work at a national fast food chain (defined as a limited-service restaurant consisting of more than 60 establishments nationally) be paid a minimum of $20 per hour, effective April 1, 2024.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently signed the Wage Theft Accountability Act (WTPA) into law, which was effective immediately. The law amends New York's criminal larceny statute to include "wage theft" in its definition of "larceny." NY CLS Penal § 155.05(2)(f).

The California Industrial Welfare Commission (IWC) was established to regulate wages, hours, and working conditions in California. Importantly, the IWC adopted "wage orders," which establish specific rules for various industries. California has not funded the IWC since 2004, and it has not been in operation. This is likely to change.

Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law HB 3129, an amendment to the Illinois Equal Pay Act that changes how employers can advertise for position openings in Illinois, on August 11, 2023. The amendment goes into effect January 1, 2025, and requires all employers with 15 or more employees to provide pay scale and benefits information in all open job postings.

In August 2023, the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona joined "the growing number of courts that have concluded" that judicial approval of Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) settlements "is neither authorized or necessary." In Evans v.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on August 30, 2023, which proposes revisions to the regulations issued under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

A federal court in Arizona recently rejected a defense for Arizona employers seeking to avoid liability for unpaid wages under the Arizona Wage Act. In Arrison v.

Effective January 1, 2024, California's minimum wage will increase to $16.00 per hour for all employers, regardless of size. Under California's Labor Code, by August 1 of each year, the director of finance will determine if the minimum wage must be adjusted for inflation and, if so, calculate the increase in minimum wage by the lesser of 3.5 percent.

Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law HB 2862 on August 4, 2023, which amends the Illinois Day and Labor Services Act by adding new equal pay obligations and safety and training requirements for employers who hire temporary workers and for staffing agencies that place them—all of which are effective immediately.

On July 11, 2023, in Thai v. International Business Machines Corp. (IBM), a three-justice panel of the California First District Appellate Court overturned a trial court's dismissal of a claim by an employee that the employer violated California law when it failed to reimburse employees for work-from-home expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the latest development in California's evolving independent contractor laws, the Los Angeles City Council approved a new ordinance that provides protections for certain independent contractors providing services in Los Angeles.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or the Board) issued a decision on June 16, 2023, returning to an Obama-era standard used to determine whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA or the Act). While employees have rights under the NLRA, independent contractors do not.

The Washington Employment Security Department (ESD) adopted new rules for the state's Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFML) regarding employer reporting requirements, child placement, and self-employment elective coverage requirements. The new rules become effective July 1, 2023.