Hilary Rodham Clinton plans to speak out against the “Cadillac tax,” which imposes taxes on certain employer-based health coverage plans, writes the New York Times. Under current proposals, employers can avoid paying the tax if they reduce health care benefits to their workers, in hopes of limiting overall health care costs. Members of the American Federation of Teachers, which endorsed Clinton earlier this year, are likely to be affected by the tax. Clinton’s opposition to the Cadillac tax may garner support from other unions as well.
The United Arab Emirates announced it will introduce reforms to strengthen oversight of employment agreements for temporary migrant workers. Al Jazeera reports that the reforms focus on improving transparency of job terms, clarifying how contracts can be broken, and easing the process for workers who want to switch employers. The government aims to ensure that the millions of temporary migrant workers in the UAE voluntarily enter and stay in their employment relationships.
The Labor Department is granting $1.55 million to eight state and local governments to explore paid leave policies. Under an order from President Obama, federal employees receive six weeks of paid leave after the birth, adoption or placement of a foster child in their family, but only “12 percent of private sector workers have access to similar paid leave polices,” according to The Hill. The paid leave grants are part of a larger Obama administration strategy to implement paid leave policies for all workers.
The New York Times discusses an ironic twist for immigrant workers hired by U.S. firms through temporary work visas. Companies like Toys “R” Us and the New York Life Insurance Company have hired foreign workers, who then closely study those businesses’ employees in the United States—to replicate their jobs in other countries and ultimately replace the American workers. The companies see the outsourcing as a key part of reducing costs; critics say that outsourcing removes jobs from the U.S., even in industries where the labor supply can meet corporate demands.
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February 26
Workplace AI regulations proposed in Michigan; en banc D.C. Circuit hears oral argument in CFPB case; white police officers sue Philadelphia over DEI policy.
February 25
OSHA workplace inspections significantly drop in 2025; the Court denies a petition for certiorari to review a Minnesota law banning mandatory anti-union meetings at work; and the Court declines two petitions to determine whether Air Force service members should receive backpay as a result of religious challenges to the now-revoked COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
February 24
In today’s news and commentary, the NLRB uses the Obama-era Browning-Ferris standard, a fired National Park ranger sues the Department of Interior and the National Park Service, the NLRB closes out Amazon’s labor dispute on Staten Island, and OIRA signals changes to the Biden-era independent contractor rule. The NLRB ruled that Browning-Ferris Industries jointly employed […]
February 23
In today’s news and commentary, the Trump administration proposes a rule limiting employment authorization for asylum seekers and Matt Bruenig introduces a new LLM tool analyzing employer rules under Stericycle. Law360 reports that the Trump administration proposed a rule on Friday that would change the employment authorization process for asylum seekers. Under the proposed rule, […]
February 22
A petition for certiorari in Bivens v. Zep, New York nurses end their historic six-week-strike, and Professor Block argues for just cause protections in New York City.
February 20
An analysis of the Board's decisions since regaining a quorum; 5th Circuit dissent criticizes Wright Line, Thryv.