Wages
Connecticut – The legislature approved compromise language clarifying the so-called 80/20 rule in the state.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Michigan – In a 4-3 decision, the state supreme court declined to rule at this time on the constitutionality of Republican efforts during the 2018 lame duck session to water down two voter-approved minimum wage and paid sick leave laws.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Pennsylvania – The legislature adjourned for the year without taking final action on minimum wage legislation.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Birmingham, AL – The lawsuit to reinstate Birmingham’s minimum wage increase (originally passed in 2016) was dismissed, meaning the increase will not go into effect.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Washington, DC -As a result of a successful Fight for $15 campaign organized by the SEIU and UNITE HERE, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority approved a plan raising the minimum wage for workers at both Dulles International and Reagan National airports to $15/hr by 2023.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Study – A new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that as the federal minimum wage rose from 1989-2013, small businesses in impacted states suffered, “lower bank credit, higher loan defaults, lower employment, a lower entry and a higher exit rate.”To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Paid Leave
U.S. Senate – The U.S. Senate approved the House-passed federal paid leave program for federal workers.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Labor Policy
NLRB – The NLRB released a flurry of year-end decisions. The Board posted a final rule that reformed more than a dozen processes in advance of union elections, effectively striking down the Obama-era “quickie” or “ambush” election rule. The Board also released two rulings that give management the right to ban the use of company emails for union drives and allow it to bar workers from discussing the details of internal investigations.
EEOC – The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reversed its stance on arbitration agreements this week.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Packaging
Giant Eagle – The 216-store regional supermarket chain announced this week that it intends to eliminate all single-use plastics in its store by 2025.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe