4 Employment Laws to Watch in 2020

June 5, 2020 | Hometown health Alaina Riley, Marketing & Wellness Coordinator, ARiley@focusonesource.com

With a new year comes new changes. Already this year we have seen some changes in employment laws. It’s critical to keep up with these changes. The best way to keep your business in compliance with federal and state laws is through continuous research.

Based on recent hot topics, we predict the following trends may be worth keeping an eye on this year.

1. Marijuana, is it legal?
What to watch for: Specific marijuana testing laws in the workplace. Each state addresses marijuana differently. Some states allow employers to maintain a marijuana-free workplace. While other states do not. Workplace marijuana laws are only applicable to medical marijuana use. Little to no protection is available for employees who partake in recreational marijuana use.

2. Paid Family Leave
What to watch for: The Paid Family Leave Act will continue to become more complex as policies change. Stay up to date on state legislation surrounding parental and medical leave trends.

3. Pay Equity
What to watch for: Changes in legislation that will impact your business. Track what is happening at the state and federal level. A few current changes include:

  • Elimination of inquiries on salary-history
  • Requirement to provide insight and reasoning on pay discrepancies
  • Provide pay transparency to workers

4. New Salary Threshold
What to watch for: Check if your classifications are set correctly based on the 2020 U.S. Department of Labor’s new salary threshold.

Dedicate the time to develop a thorough understanding of current national trends. Stay up to date on what’s new in legislation, and most importantly, watch the local changes that affect your business directly.