EEOC Withdraws Workplace Harassment Guidance
On January 22, 2026, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) voted 2-1 to rescind its Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace, which was…
DOL Opinion Letters Address FMLA Questions About Travel Time and Temporary Closures
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued two opinion letters addressing employer questions under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) regarding whether time…
Use Caution When Contacting Employee on Family Leave about Work
One of our employees is on family medical leave. The employee’s manager has a question he wants to ask the employee about a work-related matter….
Employers May Not Induce Employees to Work on Rest Day
We understand that employees must be provided a day of rest unless the employee wants to work a seventh day. We would like to offer…
2026 IRS Mileage Rate Increases
On December 29, 2025, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released the 2026 optional standard mileage rates, which are used to calculate the deductible costs of…
H-1B Visa Updates: New Selection Rules, $100k Fee Withstands Legal Challenge
On December 23, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it was amending regulations governing the H-1B visa selection process, moving from a…
Labor Commissioner Publishes Workplace Know Your Rights Model Notice
The California Labor Commissioner has published the model notice required under California’s new Workplace Know Your Rights Act, which took effect January 1, 2026. Employers…
Federal Court Largely Suspends California’s New Labor Law
On December 26, 2025, a federal court temporarily blocked major provisions of a new California labor law that would have given the California Public Employment…
New 2026 Employment Laws Reminder
Happy New Year! 2026 is here, and California employers know what that means — new employment laws just took effect. Here’s a quick reminder of…
Reflecting on 2025, Preparing for 2026! Happy Holidays!
Behind the scenes, we’re busy preparing for the new 2026 employment laws starting on January 1, so HRWatchdog will be taking a break until the…
