Benefits Legislation/Regulation

The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) launched the Employer Response Portal, where employers must submit separation information under New Jersey’s Unemployment Compensation Law.

The portal requires employers to proactively report layoffs, discharges, resignations, and retirements within seven (7) days of separation, rather than waiting for the former employee(s) to file for unemployment benefits. Employers also have seven (7) calendar days after the NJDOL makes an initial unemployment benefit determination to file an appeal.…

Federal contractors and subcontractors, take note:

On March 26, 2026, President Trump issued Executive Order No. 14398, which requires that a new contract clause be added to all contracts and contract-like instruments with Executive departments and agencies within 30 days, with the goal of prohibiting federal contractors and subcontractors from engaging in “racially discriminatory DEI…

On May 19, 2025, the Deputy Attorney General issued a memorandum entitled “Civil Rights Fraud Initiative,” intended to use the False Claims Act to bring enforcement actions against federal contractors and fund recipients accused of violating civil rights laws.

The DOJ Civil Fraud Section and Civil Rights Division are instructed, along with the Criminal Division…

Federal Departments Announce Non-Enforcement Policy on 2024 MHPAEA Regulations

On Thursday, May 15, the Departments of HHS, Labor, and the Treasury announced a non-enforcement policy on the September 2024 joint regulations to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act issued under President Biden (the “MHPAEA” and the “2024 Regs”).

Specifically, the agencies announced that…

A group of former high ranking EEOC officials from past Democratic and Republican administrations have issued a joint statement arguing that guidance released by the EEOC last month “does a grave disservice to employers, their employees and America’s economy”.

The joint statement emphasizes employers’ interest in having a diverse and inclusive workforce, pointing to research…

On March 19, the EEOC released two guidance documents: What To Do If You Experience Discrimination Related to DEI at Work | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and What You Should Know About DEI-Related Discrimination at Work | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. These “technical assistance documents” do not have the force of law…

As previously reported on PERKS, amendments to Connecticut’s paid sick leave law take effect January 1, 2025, greatly expanding employees and employers covered by the law, as well as the benefits provided.

The law also contains updated posting and notice requirements. Employers must post the state’s paid sick leave poster in the workplace and provide…

New York employers: As you know, the state’s Paid Family Leave mandate provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of job protected leave paid at 67% of their average weekly wage, up to a cap of 67% of the then-current New York State Average Weekly Wage (NYSAWW). Please be aware that for 2025, the…

Employers who have been following the legal challenges to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) proposed non-compete ban may recall that on July 3rd, a federal court in Texas granted a motion for a preliminary injunction to stop the ban from going into effect (which applied to just the parties in that case).

Yesterday, a Pennsylvania…