United States: Contract of Employment

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.

California's new Senate Bill 1316 creates a potentially case-dispositive evidentiary consequence for public works contractors beginning January 2027: failure to timely produce payroll, time, and employment records in response to labor commissioner requests may bar contractors from using those records to defend against civil wage and penalty assessments. The statute effectively transforms the investigation stage into a critical phase of hearing preparation, where a contractor's initial response to records re

California has delayed its restrictions on employment repayment agreements until 2027, giving employers more time to adapt while expanding exceptions for retention bonuses and certain financial services payments. What changes should employers anticipate, and how can they restructure their stay-or-pay provisions to comply with the modified framework?

California's amended stay-or-pay ban introduces critical exemptions for financial services recruiting payments, retention bonuses, and PTO advances while maintaining its core prohibition on employment contracts that penalize workers for leaving. Employers now have until January 2027 to restructure their compensation arrangements under the new framework, but must carefully navigate strict procedural requirements to avoid significant per-worker penalties.

The Allegheny County Board of Health has unanimously approved a revised paid parental leave bill that would provide 12 weeks of paid leave to eligible employees. The proposal, which underwent significant modifications from its original 18-week version, now moves to the Allegheny County Council for final consideration and potential approval.

Human resources departments are rapidly adopting artificial intelligence to streamline operations, but this technological shift raises critical questions about algorithmic fairness and representation. When AI development remains concentrated among a handful of companies and excludes diverse perspectives, can these tools truly serve all employees equitably? The intersection of machine learning and workplace diversity reveals troubling patterns that demand immediate attention from HR professionals.

Lawrence Kraus, a litigation partner in Foley's Boston office and leader of multiple practice groups, shares his journey from growing up in the Bronx to becoming a prominent litigator at a major law firm.

As the 2026 election approaches, employers face a complex patchwork of voting leave requirements across 28 states and the District of Columbia. With obligations varying significantly in terms of leave duration, pay requirements, scheduling control, and notice provisions, how can multi-state employers ensure compliance while managing remote workforces and meeting critical posting deadlines?

Federal workplace policy developments include House passage of legislation barring convicted child predators from union leadership, a congressional hearing examining union political activities, and new Department of Labor opinion letters clarifying Fair Labor Standards Act compliance on meal breaks, nonprofit volunteers, and tip pooling.