Q.  Is my company allowed to inquire about an applicant’s salary history when considering him or her for employment?

A.   The growing trend to eliminate inquiries into a job applicant’s salary history continues. In July, New York and New Jersey became the latest states to enact legislation that will restrict employers from obtaining and utilizing

Q: I heard there is a new parental leave law in California.  How does it compare to other states’ laws and will it affect my business if I have employees in California?

A: Parental leave laws are one of the most complicated aspects of employment law to administer and track.  There are federal, state, and local laws at play, and there is very little uniformity across the laws and across the states.  Even within one state, there may be multiple laws applicable to parental leave, and it can be difficult to navigate the interaction and overlap between the laws.  California’s new parental leave law continues to add to this complexity.
Continue Reading California’s New Parental Leave Law Adds to the Complexities of Administering Leaves of Absence for National Employers

Q: What do I need to know about the recent additions to New York City’s law about the use of criminal history in employment decisions?

A: While the New York City Fair Chance Act (“FCA”) has been in effect since October 2015, the New York City Commission on Human Rights (“Commission”) recently enacted final rules, which clarify many aspects of the law.  The final rules went into effect on August 5, 2017.

The key provision of the FCA prohibits employers from inquiring about an applicant’s criminal history until after a conditional offer of employment has been made. The final rules explain the meaning of a conditional offer, and clarify the steps an employer must take before revoking a conditional offer or taking an adverse employment action.
Continue Reading Important Additions to NYC’s Fair Chance Act Limit Employers’ Ability to Perform Background Checks

Q.  I heard there is a new law in New York City that covers retail and fast food establishments. What do I need to know?

A.  Effective November 26, 2017, retail and fast food employers will be subject to strict new laws that govern scheduling. The law is meant to provide retail and fast food employees with more predictability around scheduling by requiring employers to provide schedules a certain amount of time in advance, and prohibiting on-call shifts, among other provisions. Retail employers are simply prohibited from violating the law, while the law provides that fast food employers are required to pay employees premiums of varying amounts for some violations.
Continue Reading NYC Predictable Scheduling Law To Have Wide-Ranging Effects on Retail and Fast Food Employers

Q.  My company has employees in New York City.  We often ask applicants about their salary history as a starting point for negotiating and setting a new salary.  Are we still permitted to do this?

A.  Effective October 2017, it will be unlawful for employers to ask job applicants in New York City about their salary history.  Salary history includes “current or prior wage, benefits, or other compensation.”  The ban includes inquiries to an applicant’s current or former employer and searches of publicly available information for salary history.
Continue Reading New York City Employers May Not Inquire About Applicants’ Salary History

In recent days, New York and California took the first steps in addressing new demands for a “living wage,” with both states raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour. New York City and San Francisco also enacted monumental legislation regarding paid family leave.
Continue Reading New York and California Lead the Way in Minimum Wage Increases and Paid Leave