Ius Laboris Knowledge Base Newsletter - March 2016

The IRS has released Revenue Procedure 2026-24, establishing new inflation-adjusted limits for Health Savings Accounts and high-deductible health plans effective in 2027. These updates include increased contribution limits, higher minimum deductibles, and expanded out-of-pocket maximums, along with new provisions for direct primary care service arrangements under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act. How will these changes impact employee benefit planning and healthcare coverage strategies?

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and IRS recently issued temporary regulations that provide an immediately effective framework for establishing and administering “Trump Accounts,” including broad automatic enrollment and large-scale contributions funded by governmental and charitable donors. The regulations became effective September 30, 2026, apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and expire September 30, 2029.

On Tuesday, October 20, 2026, the Allegheny County Council passed legislation requiring employers with at least 15 workers to provide 12 weeks of paid parental leave, ending months-long debate on the proposal. We previously reported on the initial 18-week proposal in May 2026 (summarized here), the revised proposed legislation (summarized here), and the Allegheny County Board of Health passing the legislation (summarized here). The measure was passed in an 11-4 vote. It will become effective in one year, as County Executive Sara Innamorato signed the bill on, October 22, 2026.

The Trump Administration has launched an unprecedented enforcement action suspending permanent labor certification processing for eight major employers, linking immigration sponsorship to layoff histories and recruitment practices. This development signals a fundamental shift in how the government evaluates employer access to H-1B and green card programs, with investigations already underway and subpoenas served.

On March 27, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a notice in the Federal Register seeking to restructure the calculation used to issue prevailing wages for employers seeking to hire temporary foreign employees...

The Proposed Rule largely restores the 2021 independent contractor final rule issued during the first Trump Administration.

OSHA's revised Hazard Communication Standard requires covered employers to update chemical labels, written hazard communication programs, and employee training by November 20, 2026. The revisions align with the UN's Globally Harmonized System and introduce new hazard classifications, downstream use considerations, and updated requirements for compressed gases and aerosols. Employers must navigate separate compliance timelines for chemical mixtures while ensuring their workplace practices meet the updated st

While it’s difficult to think about winter and the new year as we swelter through our hottest weeks of the year, the approach of Q4 means that California employers are budgeting for 2027.

Maryland employers must comply with new posting requirements under the Worker Freedom Act, which prohibits penalizing employees who decline attendance at employer-sponsored meetings on religious or political matters. The Maryland Department of Labor has released official notices in English and Spanish that must be displayed prominently in workplaces and provided to new hires starting November 1, 2026.

On July 13, 2026, 26 current and former Meta employees sued the company in federal court in Oakland, California, alleging that Meta used artificial intelligence (AI) systems to select them for layoff in a manner...

On October 19, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2026-1, formally withdrawing three opinion letters that served as the foundation for the so-called “80/20 Rule” governing tipped employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The DOL also confirmed that its current enforcement guidance does not impose a percentage-based limit on the time a tipped employee may spend performing related, non-tip-producing duties. Instead, the inquiry focuses on whether the employee’s duties are related to the employee’s tipped occupation.

As Major League Baseball's collective bargaining agreement approaches its December 2026 expiration, team owners are proposing a hard salary cap for the first time since the 1994 strike that cancelled the World Series. With the players' union historically opposed to salary caps and both sides holding firm on their positions, the league faces a real possibility of another work stoppage that could disrupt the 2027 season.

One comment can change the entire meeting. Under Maryland's new Worker Freedom Act, effective October 1, 2026, employees may walk out of certain mandatory meetings without fear of discipline. With such an expansive law, employers are bound to have a few questions.

Virginia's General Assembly has significantly expanded restrictions on noncompetition agreements, now covering most hourly employees and healthcare professionals while introducing new severance requirements for enforcement. Employers must navigate these evolving rules alongside traditional common law standards to avoid legal pitfalls when drafting or enforcing restrictive covenants.

Connecticut employers face significant changes to employment laws taking effect October 1, 2026, including expanded pay transparency requirements, new electronic monitoring notices, and AI-related disclosure obligations. The state legislature has amended multiple employment statutes affecting hiring practices, workplace monitoring, lactation accommodations, and employee protections. These changes require proactive policy reviews to ensure compliance and avoid civil penalties.

New York recently enacted a law that, among other things, requires employers to provide current and former employees with a copy of their personnel records upon the employee’s request.

Virginia's political shift has ushered in sweeping employment law reforms that fundamentally alter the employer-employee relationship across the Commonwealth. From mandatory wage transparency and paid family leave to enhanced penalties for wage violations, these changes demand immediate attention from every Virginia employer as compliance deadlines approach.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) may be enforcing a shortened deadline for employers to submit position statements in response to a Charge of Discrimination (Charge). Although the EEOC’s official policy does not appear to have changed, and its website still states that an employer “generally has 30 days to gather the information requested and to submit its position statement and attachments to the EEOC,” a growing number of employers across the United States are receiving notice of Charges that set a fifteen-day deadline for position statements, and extensions have become harder to obtain.

The U.S. Department of Treasury has issued guidance on employer-sponsored Trump Account contribution programs, creating new tax-advantaged opportunities for employers to support employee savings for their children's future. Employers must navigate complex requirements analogous to dependent care assistance programs, including nondiscrimination rules, written plan documents, and compliance obligations under both the Internal Revenue Code and potentially ERISA. What are the key design considerations, tax impl

New York State has proposed regulations requiring certain employers to maintain opioid antagonists like naloxone in the workplace as part of their first-aid supplies. The regulations outline storage requirements, employee training mandates, and maintenance protocols, though questions remain about practical implementation for specific workplaces.