The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently stated that it will not enforce an employee-friendly independent contractor rule implemented by the Biden administration in 2024 (“Biden Rule”). The Biden Rule made it more difficult for businesses to classify workers as
World of Employment
The Stoel Rives Labor & Employment Law Blog
2024 EEO-1 Data Collection Opens
As of yesterday—May 20, 2025—EEO-1 data collection is open. The deadline to file the 2024 EEO-1 Component 1 report is June 24, 2025. The EEOC stated there will be no extensions, so covered employers should act promptly to file their…
Oregon Lawmakers Eye Major Employment Changes: Three Bills Employers Should Watch Closely
As the 83rd Oregon Legislative Session approaches its end, several employment-related bills are still in play, and they could carry significant implications for businesses across the state. While none have been signed into law yet, the momentum behind them makes…
Washington Employers: Key Legal Changes on the Horizon
Washington’s legislature has approved two bills poised to significantly reshape employer obligations around layoffs and job postings. Though not yet signed into law, both bills—if enacted—will require prompt action and policy updates from employers operating in the state.
Mini-WARN Act:…
EEO-1 Component 1 Reporting Updates
Edited May 20, 2025
Last month, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) submitted a proposed 2024 EEO-1 instruction booklet to the Office of Management and Budget. If the proposal is approved, the EEO-1 reporting period will begin on May 20,…
California Court of Appeal Confirms the Legality of Prospective Meal Period Waivers
In Bradsbery v. Vicar Operating, Inc., a California Court of Appeal answered a question that many California employers may not have known even needed to be answered—whether California employees can prospectively waive their mandatory meal periods. Given the almost universal…
Executive Order Seeks to Repeal Disparate Impact Liability
On April 23, 2025, President Trump issued a new executive order aimed at repealing disparate impact liability. The order, titled “Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy” (https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/restoring-equality-of-opportunity-and-meritocracy/), frames equal treatment under the law as “equality of opportunity, not…
Federal Court of Appeals Stays Preliminary Injunction on Trump DEI Executive Orders
On Friday, March 14, 2025, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a preliminary injunction on President Trump’s Executive Orders regarding DEI. In concurring opinions, the judges expressed varying levels of support for employers’ DEI initiatives. However, the appellate panel…
Recent National Labor Relations Board Activity Signals Shift for Employers
By Ryan Kunkel & Adam Belzberg
In the most recent indication of what employers can expect from the National Labor Relations Board under President Trump’s second term, the acting General Counsel for the Board, William Cowen, recently rescinded a series of memoranda issued by his predecessor,…
Trump Executive Order Significantly Limits Longstanding DEI Requirements for Federal Contractors
On his second day in office, January 21, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.” This Executive Order reverses roughly 60 years of federal policy and leaves many employers with questions about the…