Well, 2017 is here; and Cozen O’Connor has just issued its annual Labor and Employment Observer, which contains thoughtful analysis on the year and review of what to expect in the future. A link to the materials can be found here.
With a new President and a Republican majority in Congress, changes are likely to be coming fast and furious once the inauguration is done. Some employment issues likely to get immediate attention are changes to Obamacare and deciding the fate of the Department of Labor’s effort to raise the minimum salary threshold (which was stayed by a federal judge in Texas and is currently on appeal).
My contribution to the 2017 Observer was an article on the rise of state and local employment legislation. This is a trend to watch as it will likely pick up steam as democrat-controlled cities and states seek to fill in the perceived gaps in areas like minimum wage and sick pay laws. As an example of where this trend may be headed, see the attached article discussing an effort in Philadelphia to limit an employer’s right to question applicants about their salary histories.