Illinois employers should be aware of a new leave entitlement that took effect on June 1, 2026. Under Public Act Public Act 104-0259, eligible employees whose child is receiving care in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (“NICU”) are entitled to protected unpaid leave, creating new compliance obligations for employers across the state.
The law…
Washington State has enacted several new employment laws with effective dates this month. Here is a summary of what employers need to know:
Microchipping Employees Is Prohibited (HB 2303)
Effective June 11, 2026
Effective June 11, employers may not require or even request that employees have a microchip implanted under their skin. The only exception…
It’s Time to Prepare for the Fiscal Year 2027 H-1B Cap Lottery Registration Process
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that the initial registration period for the fiscal year (FY) 2027 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 4, 2026, and run through noon Eastern on March 19, 2026. During this…
Confronted with a claim of discriminatory termination or retaliation, an employer’s defensive strategy most often centers on marshalling facts and evidence to—eventually—support a motion for summary judgment that leans heavily—if not exclusively—on the argument that any adverse employment actions taken were based on legitimate and non-discriminatory business reasons that the employee will not be able…
USCIS announced in an interim final rule on October 29, 2025, that it will end the automatic extension of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for most EAD card holders effective October 30, 2025. Previously, certain applicants who filed a timely Form I-765 renewal could continue working for up to 540 days after their EAD expired while…
As detailed in our September 25th Blog Post, President Trump issued the Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers proclamation (the “proclamation”) on September 19, 2025, which created more questions than answers. On October 20, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) issued new guidance answering many of the questions that remained following President…
Quick Hits:
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Starting January 1, 2026, employers will face significant ramifications for wage judgments that remain unpaid 180 days after the deadline to appeal the final judgment has passed. After a wage claim proceeds to a hearing, the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) issues a decision and award. If the award is in favor of the…
On September 19, 2025, President Trump issued a proclamation restricting the entry of anyone seeking to enter or reenter the U.S. in H-1B status without payment of a new $100,000 fee. The proclamation, titled Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers, became effective at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, September 21, 2025, and is set to expire after one…
On April 23, 2025, Donald Trump issued an Executive Order titled “Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy,” (“EO”) which will likely significantly impact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (“EEOC’s”) enforcement of disparate impact discrimination. Disparate impact discrimination occurs when a workplace policy or practice is neutral on its face but has a disproportionate impact…
