The workplace accommodation process associated with employee health conditions can be one of the trickiest HR issues for U.S. businesses to navigate. For employers in New York, Connecticut, and Vermont, a federal appeals court may have just added a further
Employment Law Watch
Analysis and commentary by Reed Smith attorneys on developments in employment and labor law
Blog Authors
Latest from Employment Law Watch
Spring into action: Key hiring and onboarding tips for a successful summer season

As the calendar turns to April 1, employers have a firm grasp of their hiring budgets to prepare for what is expected to be a sizzling summer season. Many employers, large and small, will need to ramp up hiring (e.g.,…
Disciplinary dismissal for sending insulting messages via a company-provided cell phone: a shift in case law?
On December 11, 2024 (Cass. soc., Dec. 11, 2024, No. 23-20.716), the French Supreme Court upheld the dismissal of an employee who had sent insulting messages about the company and its executives via a company-provided cell phone. This decision appears…
UPDATE: Fourth Circuit reinstates DEI executive orders pending appeal
In our prior post, we reported that on February 21, 2025, a Maryland federal judge had issued a nationwide preliminary injunction temporarily blocking the key provisions of President Trump’s DEI-related Executive Orders (EOs). That judge later refused to stay…
Court clarifies that DEI executive orders are temporarily blocked for all federal agencies

In the early days of his second term, President Trump issued a series of executive orders (EO) that were aimed at reshaping the landscape of both federal and private sector policies. Two specifically targeted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives:…
Court rejects use of the “headless” PAGA action strategy to avoid arbitration
In a recent published decision, the California Court of Appeal delivered a blow to plaintiffs seeking to avoid arbitration of claims under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) by concluding that all PAGA actions, however framed, necessarily include individual and…
Neonatal care leave and pay: what UK employers need to know about the new statutory right
From 6 April 2025, new rules will give eligible employees a statutory right to paid time off if their baby requires neonatal care. This time off is in addition to their other statutory rights, such as maternity, paternity, adoption and…
Anticipating President Trump’s impact on the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

As the Trump administration continues to swiftly issue executive orders and take other actions to implement President Trump’s agenda, employers should stay tuned as the administration’s actions may soon implicate the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA).
By way of…
Key workplace changes for Illinois employers in 2025
Increases to minimum wage
Effective January 1, 2025, the minimum wage rate in Illinois increased by $1 per hour from $14.00 to $15.00. The minimum wage for tipped workers and youth workers (under 18) working fewer than 650 hours per…
Analyzing President Trump’s executive orders on harassment: Implications and reactions
On December 13, 2024, we wrote on several policies implemented by the Biden administration that were likely to be rolled back, qualified, or reversed entirely once Donald Trump officially took office. On January 20, 2025, the day of President Trump’s…