Employment Legislation Outlook – February 2024

With new state employment laws continuously being enacted, it can be challenging to keep up on each change and ensure that your policies and practices are compliant. We have your solution.

This monthly digest is designed to keep you apprised of upcoming major state law changes in areas including paid sick and safe leave laws, family and parental leave, recreational and medicinal marijuana use, workplace gun laws, asking candidates about salary history and unpredictable scheduling.

Here’s what’s on the horizon:

February 2024

• Pittsburgh begins strict enforcement of Paid Sick Days Act.

March 2024

• Illinois employers with more than 100 employees must file equal pay registration certificate effective March 23.
• New York social media disclosure prohibitions effective March 12.

April 2024

• Colorado wage theft enforcement fund effective April 1.

July 2024

• Chicago Paid Leave and Paid Sick and Safe Leave Ordinance now effective July 1.
• Colorado prohibits requiring applicant’s age, date of birth or graduation date on job application effective July 1.

October 2024

• Maryland paid family and medical leave contributions begin October 1.

2025

• Delaware paid family and medical leave law contributions expected to begin January 1.
• Amendment to Illinois Equal Pay Act effective January 1.
• Maine paid family and medical leave program effective January 1.
• New Hampshire accommodations for nursing mothers effective July 1.

2026

• Delaware paid family and medical leave benefits begin January 1.
• Maine paid family and medical leave benefits available January 1.
• Maryland paid family and medical leave benefits begin January 1.
• Minnesota paid family leave attributions begin January 1.

In case you missed it:

January 2024

• California increase in paid sick leave requirements effective January 1.
• California noncompete enforcement restrictions effective January 1.
• California minimum wage and white collar exemption minimum annual salary increase effective January 1.
• California prohibits discrimination against off-duty use of cannabis and implements new marijuana drug screening requirements effective January 1.
• California unpaid reproductive loss leave implemented January 1.
• Colorado paid family leave benefits begin January 1.
• Illinois Paid Leave For All Workers Act effective January 1.
• Illinois Transportation Benefits Program Act effective January 1.
• Maryland law increasing the state minimum wage to $15 an hour for all employees effective January 1.
• Minnesota paid sick time law effective January 1.
• Minnesota salary history ban effective January 1.
• Tennessee legalizes hemp-derived cannabinoids effective January 1.
• Washington paid sick leave changes effective January 1.

COVID-19-Related Leave Law and Other Changes:

• New York vaccine paid leave effective through December 31, 2023.
• Nevada COVID-19 vaccine leave effective June 9, 2021.
• Cook County, Illinois COVID-19 vaccine leave effective July 1, 2021.
• New York City paid sick leave for children's vaccinations effective November 2, 2021.
• Washington, D.C. paid vaccination leave effective November 18, 2021.
• New York quarantine leave law extended into 2022.
• Cal/OSHA COVID-19 duties extended until January 1, 2024; new posting requirements effective January 1, 2023.
• San Francisco PHEL leave effective October 1, 2022.

What to Watch:

Washington, D.C. may become the latest jurisdiction to require pay transparency in job postings.