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New Mexico: Updates Minimum Wage, Pregnancy Accommodations, “Red Flag” Gun Law, and More

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Governor Michelle Grisham recently signed a draft of bills that impact employer obligations in New Mexico, including revisions to the statewide minimum wage, addition of a “red flag” firearm law, statewide retirement, and more.  Below is a summary of the new bills, all of which go into effect May 20, 2020, unless otherwise noted.

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March Updates

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This Short List addresses the following topics:
  1. Second Circuit: ERISA Plans Can Be Modified Absent Fraud or Mistake
  2. 10th Circuit: Colorado Home Healthcare Workers are Not Entitled to Overtime
  3. California: Wage and Hour Concerns for Coronavirus
  4. California:  Emergency Wildfire Smoke Regulations Renewed Again
  5. Denver, CO: Anti-Discrimination Protections Expanded
  6. District of Columbia: Notice Requirements for Paid Family Leave
  7. Illinois: Guidance Issued on Sexual Harassment Requirements
  8. Minneapolis, MN: Local Minimum Wage Law is Given a Green Light
  9. St. Louis, MO: Ban-the-Box in Effect for Private Employers
  10. New Mexico: Workers’ Comp Claim Doesn’t Apply to Tribal Casino
  11. New York: Statewide Salary History Ban FAQs
  12. New York City, NY: Contractors/Freelancers Must Receive Anti-Harassment and Discrimination Protection & Training
  13. Philadelphia, PA: Salary History Inquiry Ban is Back in Effect
  14. Columbia, SC: Criminal and Salary History Ordinance No Longer Applies to Private Employers

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Connecticut: New Law Codifies “80/20” Rule for Compensating Tipped Employees

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April 1, 2020*

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Hospitality employers who take tip credits when compensating employees will be relieved to hear that Connecticut’s legislation has made new strides to clarifying how tipped employees must be paid.  The recently-passed Public Act 19-1 requires the Connecticut Labor Commissioner to adopt regulations codifying the federal “80/20” rule.  The Act requires the Labor Commissioner to post a notice of intent to adopt these regulations by April 1, 2020, though the actual effective date of the rule is not yet clear.

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February Updates

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This Short List addresses the following topics:
  1. IRS Mileage Rates for 2020
  2. Fair Chance Act Now Applies to Federal Contractors and Agencies
  3. ACA “Cadillac Tax” Repealed
  4. California: Employer Fails to Provide Legal Business Name on Wage Statement
  5. Michigan: Paid Sick Leave and Minimum Wage Update
  6. New Jersey: Medical Marijuana is a Reimbursable Medical Expense
  7. New York: Tipped Workers in Some Industries Must Soon be Paid Full Minimum Wage
  8. New York: Companies Must Report Number of Women on Boards of Directors
  9. New York: Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act on Temporary Hold

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December Updates

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This Short List addresses the following topics:
  1. 2020 Minimum Wage Increases for Federal Contractors
  2. Second Circuit: Sexual Harassment vs. Sex Discrimination
  3. Third Circuit: Blue Penciling Noncompete Agreements is Okay
  4. Sixth Circuit: Statute of Limitations Cannot be Shortened for Title VII Cases
  5. Ninth Circuit: Home Care Workers’ Overtime Rule Retroactive Effective Date Applied
  6. Tenth Circuit: FLSA Applies to Workers in Cannabis Industry
  7. California: Calculating Meal and Rest Premiums Clarified
  8. California: Mandatory Service Charges May be Gratuities
  9. Bernalillo County, NM: PTO Start Date Moved Up
  10. New York: Reproductive Health Decisions Protected
  11. New York City, NY: Guidance on National Origin/Immigrant Status-based Discrimination
  12. Oregon: Don’t Retaliate – Even After Termination
  13. Columbia, SC: Criminal and Salary History Inquiries Banned
  14. San Antonio, TX: Paid Sick Leave on Hold – Again

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October Updates

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This Short List addresses the following topics:
  1. OFCCP Releases new FAQs on Independent Contractors, Compliance Evaluations, and AAP
  2. Ninth Circuit: ERISA Claims May be Arbitrated
  3. California: PAGA-only Claims May Not Seek Unpaid Wages
  4. Petaluma, CA: Minimum Wage Increases on January 1, 2020
  5. Colorado: Courts Are Not Required to Blue Pencil Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation Agreements
  6. Massachusetts: Counting 1099-MISC Workers for Paid Family Medical Leave
  7. New Jersey: Hairstyles are Protected under the Law Against Discrimination
  8. Bernalillo County, NM: Enacts Wellness Act
  9. New York: Hairstyles are Protected under the State Human Rights Law
  10. Toledo, Ohio: Salary History Inquiries Banned
  11. South Carolina: State Supreme Court Abolishes Common Law Marriage
  12. Dallas and San Antonio, TX: Paid Sick Leave Update

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California: AB 5 Cements the Dynamex Independent Contractor Test

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In 2018, in Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court (Lee), the California Supreme Court set forth an ABC test for determining when an individual is an independent contractor rather than an employee for wage and hour-related claims. Specifically, the Court stated that a workers is presumed to be an employee unless the business proves: (A) the worker is free from control and direction of the hirer in connection with the performance of the work, based in contract and in fact; (B) the worker performs work that is outside the usual course of the hiring entity’s business; and (C) the worker is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, or business of the same nature as the work performed for the hiring entity. The previous Borello standard was left in place for determining independent contractor status for non-wage and hour claims.

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North Dakota: Recent Employment Updates

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August 1, 2019

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North Dakota enacted several new laws before the close of this year’s legislative session; key provisions are summarized below.

Volunteer Emergency Responder Leave. Covered leave now includes all volunteer members of the army or air national guard in any state, not just North Dakota.

Marijuana “Decriminalization”. North Dakota reduced penalties for first-time possession of up to a half ounce of marijuana to only a fine, not jail time. However, possession of larger amounts, repeat offenses, and sales or trafficking can still result in harsher sentences. The lessening of punishment for first-time offenders does not make marijuana legal; it merely treats the infraction more like a traffic ticket.

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September Updates

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This Short List addresses the following topics:
  1. REMINDER! EEO-1 Component 2 Reporting is Due September 30th
  2. DOL Says DOT Drivers Sleeping in Berths While Off-Duty is Unpaid Time
  3. 2nd Circuit: Collectively Bargained Arbitration is Governed by the Scope of the Agreement
  4. 9th Circuit: The Dynamex Independent Contractor Test Does Not Apply Retroactively – For Now
  5. New Noncompete Restrictions in Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island
  6. Arizona: Mini-COBRA and Bona Fide Associations Updates
  7. California: Hairstyles Soon to Be Protected From Discrimination
  8. Emeryville, CA: Small Independent Restaurant Minimum Wage Hold Repealed
  9. Florida: Unemployment Compensation Protections for Domestic Violence Victims
  10. Indiana: Direct Sellers are Exempt from Minimum Wage Rules
  11. Iowa: Enacts Negligent Hiring Protections for Employers
  12. Louisiana: Electronic Notice to Employees Permitted for Group Health Insurance Plans
  13. Kansas City, MO: Enacts Salary History Inquiry Ban
  14. New Hampshire: Child Labor Hours Restricted
  15. New York: Paid Family Leave Benefit Schedule Update
  16. New York: Whistleblower’s Immigration Status is Protected
  17. Ohio: Motor Carrier Drivers Excluded from Definition of “Employee”
  18. Pittsburgh, PA: Paid Sick Leave is Revived by State Supreme Court
  19. Vermont: Expunged Records Make Criminal Convictions Vanish
  20. Virginia: Updates to Minimum Wage Exemptions and Nondisclosure Agreements
  21. West Virginia: Effect of Expunged Criminal Convictions

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