New Jersey recently enacted its Wage Theft Law, transforming the state’s wage and hour laws into one of the most robust in the country. The law substantially expands the civil and criminal recourse available for nonpayment of wages and retaliation.
Toledo, Ohio recently adopted the Pay Equity Act to Prohibit the Inquiry and Use of Salary History in Hiring Practices. The ordinance generally prohibits employers or their agents from asking about, screening or relying on the wage history of applicants.
Although most state legislatures have adjourned for 2019 or are in recess, those still in active session finalized several new employment laws in July.
The pay gap – or paying women and other historically marginalized groups less for the same or substantially similar work – has increasingly been in the media spotlight. Politicians have also taken note.
On July 31, 2019, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 834 into law, strengthening the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003. Key changes take effect on September 29, 2019 and include a ban on the solicitation of salary history data from applicants.
On July 22, 2019, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) issued its second Opinion Letter since November 30, 2018, when Directive 2019-03 announced the agency’s intent to begin delivering such guidance to the contractor community.
On July 10, 2019, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation significantly expanding the protections of New York’s Pay Equity Law, and imposing a ban on inquiries into an applicant’s salary history.
This Insight discusses Chapters 6 and 8 of the Guidelines on the Interpretation of Puerto Rico’s Employment Legislation, which provide guidance on vacation entitlement, sick leave, lactation breaks, and equal pay.
Every year, there are numerous state laws and local ordinances that take effect after the first of the year - and 2019 is no exception. This article summarizes key labor and employment laws and ordinances that become effective in the next few months.