Workplace Rules

In this episode, James and Heather discuss the recent updates to Washington state's non-competition laws, which took effect on June 6, 2024. They explore the implications for employers and employees and consider the impact of an FTC rule that bans most non-competes. Key topics include the stricter scrutiny and enforcement of non-competes, revised definitions, and the effects on employee mobility and business practices.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued its Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) Final Rule, which has recently gone into effect. In this episode, Emily and Lara discuss the PWFA, covering the background, provisions, and implications of the law.

In this episode, Chris and Shannon explore the Davis-Bacon Act and the Service Contract Act. Listen as they cover the implications of these regulations for federal contractors and gain valuable insights into the crucial considerations that contractors must be aware of to maintain compliance.

The Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council recently issued a Proposed Rule that would require pay transparency in federal contracting. In this episode, Chris and Jeremy discuss the proposed rule in detail. They cover the implications of the rule, the current landscape of pay equity law, and the steps federal contractors may want to take to prepare for this rule.

In this episode, Shylah and Kristie discuss the implications of “no-poach” agreements from an antitrust perspective. They explore the U.S. Department of Justice’s approach toward such agreements, the criminal consequences attached, and how companies have been reacting. Further, they delve into the importance of antitrust compliance training for human resources professionals and other employees.

In this episode, Chris Wilkinson updates listeners on federal and state regulation of artificial intelligence (AI). Chris discusses his article published in Bloomberg Law titled "Employers, Take Notice as the DOL Crafts White House AI Mandates," in which he explains the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) new responsibilities under President Biden’s AI executive order addressing such issues as discrimination, immigration, and worker displacement. In addition, Chris speaks about AB 331, California’s landmark proposal to regulate AI.

In part two of our series on how Americans' views of corporations are changing, Senior Counsel Chris Wilkinson is joined by Perkins Coie's persuasive communications advisor, Senior Litigation Consultant Karen Lisko, to discuss how these views are playing out in the courtroom. Karen provides insights into the impact of public perception of corporations on jury decisions, shares strategies for corporations to use when defending a case, and describes her own experience educating lawyers and judges in presenting their best case at trial.

A new law recently took effect in Washington that changes the way employers should conduct drug tests. In this Episode, Emily and Margo explain the new law, who is affected, and what steps employers may want to consider to ensure they are complying with this new law.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued a final rule imposing stricter criteria for companies to classify workers as independent contractors. This rule, effective as of March 11, 2024, deviates from the previous administration's interpretation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and may result in more lawsuits related to misclassification. These lawsuits, if filed as collective actions under the FLSA, can have significant implications for companies. Listen to learn more about the final rule, how companies may be affected, and steps that companies should consider to ensure that they are complying with the new developments in the law.

Get a preview of the fifth edition of Perkins Coie’s Labor Law Today—Year in Review report in this latest podcast episode. The speakers delve into the National Labor Relations Board and its general counsel’s aggressive employee-friendly actions; explore summaries of influential decisions like McClaren McComb, Cemex, and Stericycle; and unravel the notable uptick in strike activity. Listen to this insightful episode for analysis on the evolving landscape of labor law.