Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.

Ogletree Deakins is a leading national law firm specializing in labor and employment. The firm blogs on workplace regulations and labor law updates.

Latest from Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. - Page 4

Ogletree Deakins Insights

Salvadoran TPS Beneficiaries Retain Work Authorization Pending Further DHS Announcement

By Jessica L. Lamb

September 16, 2026

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Quick Hits

TPS protection for El Salvador was previously scheduled to end on September 9, 2026, but USCIS has not announced a formal extension, termination, or blanket EAD auto-extension date beyond the current alert.
Salvadoran individuals present in the United

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Ogletree Deakins Insights

SEC and FDA Partner on Legal Compliance for Food and Drug Industries

By Jane A. Norberg

September 16, 2026

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Quick Hits

On August 31, 2026, the SEC and the FDA signed an agreement to enhance cooperation on regulatory and enforcement activities.
The agencies will share information related to FDA-regulated products and companies that sell FDA-regulated products.
The MOU signals

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Ogletree Deakins Insights

U.S. District Court Issues Preliminary Injunction of DHS’s Duration of Status Framework Rule

By Ashley K. Kerr

September 15, 2026

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Quick Hits

On July 17, 2026, DHS published a final rule—scheduled to take effect on September 15, 2026—that would end the longstanding duration of status framework for F, J, and I visa holders.
A U.S. district court found that the

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Ogletree Deakins Insights

Ninth Circuit Holds Employees Can Exit Arbitration and Sue in Court Under EFAA

By Jack S. Sholkoff & Sandra Aguilar

September 15, 2026

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In Ding v. Structure Therapeutics, Inc., No. 25-1532 (August 19, 2026), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that a plaintiff may invoke the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021

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Ogletree Deakins Insights

DOL Guidance Clarifies Enforcement Priorities Around Mental Health Parity Rules

By Stephanie A. Smithey & Timothy J. Stanton

September 15, 2026

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Quick Hits

The DOL recently issued guidance indicating that the department intends to focus enforcement on three categories of health plan nonquantitative treatment limitations (NQTLs): (1) plan exclusions and some treatment limitations, (2) medical necessity standards and review process, and

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Ogletree Deakins Insights

California’s Minimum Wage Rate Set to Rise to $17.40 in 2027

By ByChristopherW.Olmsted@ogletree.com

September 15, 2026

Quick Hits

Starting January 1, 2027, California’s minimum wage rate will rise to $17.40 per hour, reflecting a 2.99 percent adjustment based on federal inflation data.
Employers may want to prepare for the upcoming wage adjustment and remain aware of

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Ogletree Deakins Insights

Beltway Buzz, September 11, 2026

By James J. Plunkett

September 11, 2026

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The Beltway Buzz® is a weekly update summarizing labor and employment news from inside the Beltway and clarifying how what’s happening in Washington, D.C., could impact your business.

USCIS Releases Proposal to Eliminate Sixty-Day Grace Period. Today, U.S. Citizenship and

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Ogletree Deakins Insights

UK Tribunal Overturns Retail Workers’ Win in Equal Pay Case

By Daniella McGuigan

September 11, 2026

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Quick Hits

Female retail employees in the UK sued Next Retail Limited for paying them less than male warehouse workers for work of equal value.
The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) determined that recruiting and retention needs at warehouses were legitimate

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Ogletree Deakins Insights

Equal Pay in Germany: Closing the Gap, but Not to the Top

By Julia S. Kulmegies & LL.M. (Tongji Shanghai 同济大学)

September 11, 2026

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Quick Hits

If an employee earns less than a male colleague who performs the same or equivalent work, gender-based disadvantage is presumed under German employment law.
Employers may rebut this presumption by showing objective, gender-neutral reasons for differences in compensation.

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Ogletree Deakins Insights

California Aligns With Federal Law on Arbitration Agreements

By Spencer C. Skeen & Katie M. Greenbaum

September 11, 2026

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Quick Hits

California enacted AB 2155, providing that a written arbitration agreement is unenforceable under state law to the extent it is unenforceable under the FAA.
Arbitration agreements remain valid unless certain exemptions apply.
The state law will take effect

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