Labor & Employment Law Update

The Seventh Circuit recently ruled that a non-disabled employee can recover damages under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) under certain conditions. Learn how this decision will impact employers in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.

On April 29, 2025, the Missouri Supreme Court issued an opinion upholding the state's paid sick time law and significant increase in minimum wage, otherwise known as Proposition A. Consequently, the law went into full effect for most Missouri employers on May 1, 2025. Accordingly, Missouri employers must ensure they are compliant with Proposition A’s minimum wage increase and paid sick time requirements.

Today’s employment environment requires companies large and small to be deliberate when designing their compensation strategy. Our panelists presented a high-level overview of the options available to executive teams when designing compensation packages that align with key business goals and objectives. Read the top takeaways from this presentation. 

In the wake the U.S. Supreme Court’s April 2024 decision in Muldrow v. City of St. Louis, some federal courts feel compelled or justified applying the same rationale to lower the standard to prove up workplace harassment claims. This will likely pave the way for more workplace harassment lawsuits to reach a jury, which in turn will lead to more harassment lawsuits being filed against employers.

On April 2, 2025, United States Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it will extend the work authorization for individuals who are in the U.S. on Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from Venezuela through April 2, 2026.  Employers should take note when completing the Form I-9 and E-Verify for new and current employees.

Missouri’s paid sick time law, Proposition A, is scheduled to go into effect on May 1, 2025. While the constitutionality of Proposition A is currently being challenged under a state lawsuit before Missouri’s Supreme Court and Missouri’s General Assembly is considering legislation to repeal the mandate altogether, the paid sick time requirements are still on course to take effect May 1.

In today’s competitive talent marketplace, traditional compensation models alone are no longer enough to attract and retain top performers. Explore innovative approaches to total rewards that can help drive measurable business outcomes and increase employee retention and engagement on April 16.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently announced that it will be examining DEI programs for potential violations of Title VII following President Trump’s executive orders regarding DEI programs and the federal court review that followed.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued an opinion letter clarifying managers and supervisors still cannot receive or keep tips, including from a tip pool.  This came shortly after the DOL restored the dual jobs rule in December of 2024.

Over the past year, numerous class actions have been filed against large employers claiming their health plan surcharge for tobacco use is not in compliance with HIPAA nondiscrimination rules. These cases show no signs of slowing down. However, there are proactive steps employers can take to minimize the risk of becoming targets in this litigation trend.