As the No Surprises Act (NSA) enters 2026, federal agencies are expected to focus on three key issues: finalizing delayed rulemaking, issuing guidance to address operational challenges in the Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) process, and managing enforcement discretion amid ongoing
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The American Franchise Act: Re-Defining Joint Employer Liability
Understanding joint employer liability is critical for companies in the franchise sector, as it directly impacts risk management and compliance. If the American Franchise Act (AFA) were enacted, it would provide significant guidance to franchisors and franchisees regarding the circumstances
False Claims Act Enforcement Trends: FY 2025 Sees Record High Resolutions
The Department of Justice (DOJ) released its annual False Claims Act (FCA) enforcement statistics on January 16, 2026. The DOJ announced a record level of recoveries from FCA resolutions in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 (ending Sept. 30, 2025), which exceeded
California’s Ban on “Stay-or-Pay” Provisions: What Employers Should Know Now That AB 692 Is in Effect
With the start of the new year, California Assembly Bill 692 (AB 692) is now in effect, introducing sweeping new restrictions on employment agreements that include so-called “stay-or-pay” provisions — terms requiring employees to repay money or incur financial consequences
New Mechanisms for Employers to Expand Employee Access to Fertility Benefits
Late last year, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury (collectively, the Departments) provided long-awaited guidance clarifying two new ways — in addition to the already-existing mechanisms — for employers to expand fertility benefit offerings. The Departments
New U.S. DOL Opinion Letters Poised to Reshape Employers’ FLSA and FMLA Practices
The United States Department of Labor (DOL) just rang in 2026 with six new opinion letters addressing various employer practices under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The letters cover a broad
The Zafirov Appellate Argument — Panel Steers Parties to Address Whistleblower Control
The much-anticipated appellate showdown regarding the constitutionality of the whistleblower (or qui tam) provision of the federal False Claims Act (FCA) took place before a three-judge panel of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals (Judge Elizabeth L. Branch, Judge Robert
Brewed for Trouble: Starbucks’ $39M NYC Settlement Puts Predictive Scheduling Laws in the Spotlight
In a landmark agreement, Starbucks Corporation has agreed to pay nearly $39 million to resolve allegations that it violated New York City’s Fair Workweek Law, sending a powerful message to employers nationwide about the risks of ignoring local predictive scheduling
New Year, New AI Rules: Healthcare AI Laws Now in Effect
As healthcare organizations ring in 2026, they will also be ringing in a new era of AI regulation. With Congress yet to pass comprehensive AI legislation and federal regulatory guidance in flux, states have stepped in to fill the void.
How California Employers Can Prepare for New Employment Laws Taking Effect in 2026
The 2025 legislative cycle in California once again produced several bills that substantially expand and reform employer obligations in the Golden State. These laws add new workplace notice requirements, broaden leave and rehiring protections, expand personnel file and recordkeeping obligations,