On September 24, 2019, the United States Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued its long-awaited final rule that will increase the minimum salary threshold that is required to be paid to employees who otherwise meet the “white collar” exemptions. The new rule is effective January 1, 2020 and will require employees be paid $684/week (equating to $35,568/year) on a salary basis in order to qualify as an exempt employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”).  Exempt…

Within the past few weeks, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed several pieces of legislation expanding the scope of anti-discrimination laws in the New York workplace and adding accommodation obligations for domestic violence victims. New York employers should review these changes to the law carefully, paying particular attention to the effective dates noted below, and update their policies/practices accordingly. Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Protections On August 12, 2019, Governor Cuomo signed into law significant expansions to workplace anti-discrimination…

Earlier this month New Jersey enacted the comprehensive Anti-Wage Theft Law (the “Act”), which amends certain critical provisions in New Jersey’s existing Wage Payment Law, the Wage Collection Law, and the Wage and Hour Law (the “Wage Laws”). The Act expands the scope of liability for employers by increasing the damages that are obtainable to an aggrieved employee, enlarging the causes of action that are available, and extending the statute of limitations from two years…

On July 25, 2019, New Jersey enacted a law banning salary history inquiries, joining 18 other states in doing so, including New York and many municipalities. The law, NJA1094, becomes effective on January 1, 2020. The law prohibits New Jersey employers from inquiring about an applicant’s salary history in the application process or using an applicant’s refusal to provide salary history in the hiring process. The law also prohibits an employer from setting certain minimum or…

In an update with respect to perhaps one of the most important and far-reaching appellate decisions on website accessibility cases filed by legally blind or visually impaired plaintiffs pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Domino’s Pizza, less than two months ago, filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court, asking the nation’s High Court to review and reverse the decision of the United States Court of Appeals for…

Recently, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed two significant bills expanding the scope of anti-discrimination laws in the New York workplace. Specifically, on July 10, 2019, Governor Cuomo signed Senate Bill 6549, prohibiting employers from inquiring about applicant and employee salary history, and Senate Bill 5248B, expanding pay protections under the New York Equal Pay Act. Expansion of Equal Pay Protections The recently enacted New York Senate Bill 5248B, which goes into effect on October 8, 2019,…