D.C. Council Pauses Increase in Tipped Minimum Wage
The District of Columbia City Council paused a scheduled increase of the tipped minimum wage that was to go into effect on July 1, 2025, as the District considers possible repeal of the controversial law. Passed by D.C. voters in November 2022, Initiative 82 was designed to phase out the tip credit in favor of […]
Shifting DEI Law Impacts Federal Contractors
In January 2025, President Trump issued Executive Orders 14151 and 14173, essentially instructing executive agencies to end DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs within federal grant and contract programs. Trump’s Executive Orders revoked Executive Order 13985, which, under President Biden, required Federal agencies to identify ways they have furthered DEI. Trump’s Executive Orders also revoked […]
Virginia Expands Prohibition Against Non-Compete Agreements
Non-Competes Barred for Personnel Eligible for Overtime Pay, Effective July 1, 2025 The Virginia General Assembly has enlarged a statutory prohibition against the application of non-compete agreements so that its coverage will soon extend beyond the “low-wage employees” covered under the current statute. Under revisions to the Virginia Code effective July 1, 2025, employers will […]
New NLRB General Counsel Rescinds Multiple Memoranda to the Benefit of Employers
On February 14, 2025, NLRB acting General Counsel William B. Cowen rescinded multiple memoranda issued by former General Counsel, Jennifer Abruzzo. Ms. Abruzzo left her position as GC at the NLRB on January 28, 2025. During her tenure, Ms. Abruzzo issued several memoranda regarding employee rights under the NLRA. President Trump appointed Mr. Cowen as […]
Federal Court Vacates DOL Rule to Raise Minimum Salary Threshold
On November 15, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas vacated a ruleissued by the Department of Labor (“Rule”) to raise the minimum salary threshold applicable towhite-collar exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). The Rule raised the minimum salary threshold from $684 to $844 per week for white-collarexempt employees […]
Employers Must Register for State Retirement Savings Plan to Avoid Enforcement Penalties
If your business is eligible for the new Virginia retirement savings plan RetirePath (or the“Program”) and it has not yet registered, it should do so to avoid potential enforcement penalties. The registration deadline for newly eligible businesses was on October 30, 2024, and theregistration deadline for previously eligible businesses has also already passed. Registration foreligible […]
The Overtime Rules are Changing – Are you Ready?
Last year, the United States Department of Labor (“DOL”) announced a notice of proposed rulemaking (“NPRM”) designed 1) to increase the salary level required for employees paid on a salary basis under white-collar overtime exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”); 2) to update the salary level automatically every three years; and 3) to […]
New Virginia Organ and Bone-Marrow Donation Leave Does Not Run Concurrently with FMLA Leave
Virginia enacted a new law which requires eligible employers to provide up to 60 business days of unpaid leave for organ donation, and up to 30 business days of unpaid leave for bone-marrow donation in a 12-month period. See https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+ful+CHAP0751+pdf. The new statute specifically states that the new form of leave does not run concurrently […]
Virginia DOLI Withdraws Permanent COVID Standards
Effective March 23, 2022, the Virginia DOLI withdrew its previously-issued Permanent COVID Standards. The DOLI replaced the Standards with the Guidance for Employers to Mitigate the Risk of COVID-19 to Workers (“Guidance”), which present less restrictive protocols for employers than the previous COVID Standards. The prior DOLI Standards included the requirements that employees wear a mask and […]
Virginia DOLI Mandates Masks Regardless of Vaccination Status
Read the article here for updates On September 8, 2021, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (“DOLI”) published new Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Administration Standards mandating, among other things, that Virginia employers require unvaccinated employees working indoors to wear face coverings. The new Standards also mandate face coverings for vaccinated individuals working indoors […]
