Changes in employment law are afoot, and 2024 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for workplace legislation. The federal government, states, counties, and cities have again been active in passing measures primarily intended to protect employees. From the shifting dynamics in paid leave policies to the introduction of new antidiscrimination laws, here’s a look at some of the top changes to employment law that could shake up corporate compliance strategies in the new year.
Littler’s Workplace Policy Institute (WPI) has been keenly tracking these legislative amendments and regulatory processes. Below is a brief overview of some of the significant shifts your firm or corporate legal division should be aware of:
- Federally mandated paid leave policies: A new federal mandate is moving the dial on paid leave policies, prompting companies to revisit their existing frameworks for employee time-off.
- New antidiscrimination and harassment protections: Enhanced protective measures against workplace discrimination and harassment have been enacted at both the state and federal levels, notably broadening the scope of what constitutes such misconduct.
- Heightened employee privacy protections: Firms and corporations will need to navigate more stringent data privacy laws, potentially reframing the way private employee information is handled within the workplace.
These shifts in employment law underline a broader trend towards enhanced employee protection and the need for heightened compliance vigilance among employers. Legal divisions would do well to familiarize themselves with these changes and reevaluate their organization’s compliance readiness for the year ahead.