On September 5, 2025, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) confirmed that it is abandoning a Biden-era rule that, had it taken effect, would have barred the use of virtually all noncompete agreements across the country. While that long-expected announcement was welcome news to the business community, it does not necessarily mean that the increased
Employment Law Watch
Analysis and commentary by Reed Smith attorneys on developments in employment and labor law
Blog Authors
Latest from Employment Law Watch
New employment laws coming into effect for Illinois employers
Governor J.B. Pritzker of Illinois has been busy this August, signing off on several pieces of legislation that will impact Illinois employers. While most of these developments will not become effective until January 1, 2026, it is always advisable for Illinois employers to stay ahead of the compliance curve, particularly when labor and employment laws…
NLRB GC signals strong stance against secret recordings
Two recent memoranda from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Division of Advice and the General Counsel have clarified the agency’s position on surreptitious recordings, including those made by employees in the workplace and those occurring during collective bargaining sessions. The memoranda address the general treatment of surreptitious recordings under the National Labor Relations Act…
New York City expands regulations on paid prenatal leave
On July 2, 2025, the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DWCP) adopted new rules amending the city’s Earned Safe and Sick Time Act (ESSTA) to address the requirements of New York State’s Paid Prenatal Leave law, which went into effect on January 1, 2025. As explained in greater detail below, these…
UK Employment law reform – further amendments to the Employment Rights Bill
The Employment Rights Bill (ERB), the UK government’s flagship legislation for employment law reform, is continuing its passage through the parliamentary process to become law. Having grown and developed since first introduced in October 2024, yet more amendments were tabled on 7 July 2025. These come less than a week after the government published its roadmap…
UK employment law reform roadmap published – buckle up for the ride
When labour came into power last summer, they promised employment law reform as a priority. Dubbed the biggest shake-up of employment rights for a generation, the Employment Rights Bill (ERB) is now reaching the tail end of the parliamentary process and is anticipated to be on the statute book by autumn.
Once the ERB is…
Florida’s CHOICE Act represents a seismic shift in non-compete law
Georgia enacts Dignity and Pay Act prohibiting subminimum wage for workers with disabilities
By Ryan Gorman & Kelli Church
On May 1, 2025, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed the Dignity and Pay Act (the Act). The Act, which takes effect on July 1, 2025, prohibits the previously lawful practice of paying individuals with disabilities less than minimum wage in certain circumstances.
Previously, Georgia law permitted the Georgia Commissioner of Labor to grant employers an…
Virginia expands non-compete restrictions to cover all non-exempt employees
Effective July 1, 2025, the current Virginia statutory restriction on non-competition agreements for “low-wage employees” will expand to cover all non-exempt employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This amendment, enacted through SB 1218 and signed into law on March 24, 2025, prohibits employers from entering into, enforcing, or threatening to enforce non-compete agreements…
Justices reject higher standard for majority-group plaintiffs asserting Title VII claims
On Thursday, June 5, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously vacated a Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals decision, which held that plaintiffs claiming anti-heterosexual workplace discrimination must provide extra evidence related to “background circumstances,” because it improperly imposed higher standards on majority-group plaintiffs alleging violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of…