August 2024

Last week brought a major development in litigation surrounding the FTC’s sweeping rule that would ban and render unenforceable most non-compete clauses in employment contracts. Specifically, on August 20, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Ryan LLC, et al. v. FTC issued an order setting aside the FTC’s rule nationwide, meaning that the rule will no longer become effective on September 4, 2024 as scheduled.   Continue Reading Texas Federal Court Sets Aside the FTC’s Rule Banning Non-Competes, With the Court’s Order Having Nationwide Effect

New Hampshire has adopted a law that creates a private cause of action for discrimination based on hairstyles related to a person’s ethnicity.

On July 3, 2024, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu signed HB 1169-FN.  The law adopts a version of the Model CROWN Act (“Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair”), which has been adopted in some version by 25 other U.S. states. A more detailed description of the Model CROWN Act can be found here.Continue Reading New Hampshire Adopts New Law Prohibiting Workplace Discrimination Based on Protective Hairstyles

Until now, private employers in New Hampshire have been able to prohibit employees from storing guns in personal vehicles parked in employer parking lots.  Employers could prohibit all firearms on their premises, permit firearms, or place conditions on the right to possess firearms on the employer’s premises.  On July 15, 2024, Governor Sununu signed into law HB 1336, which restricts this right for most employers in New Hampshire.  The newly enacted law (i) grants employees the legal right to keep loaded firearms in their personal vehicles while entering or exiting the employer’s property or while the vehicle is parked on company premises, with only a few permissible restrictions, and (ii) restricts employers from requiring employees to disclose the presence of firearms or ammunition in an employee’s vehicle or searching an employee’s vehicle for a firearm or ammunition. Continue Reading Sununu Signs New Law Relating to Firearms in Employee Vehicles

Massachusetts has joined a growing list of states and other localities to implement pay transparency legislation.

On July 31, 2024, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy signed into law Bill H.4890. The Bill contains new pay transparency and wage reporting requirements applicable to certain employers with employees in Massachusetts.Continue Reading Massachusetts Governor Signs Pay Transparency and Wage Data Reporting Law