Employment Law and Labour Law

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued guidance stating that most employer contributions to the newly created children’s “Trump Accounts,” or 530A accounts, will not trigger application of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has once again invoked the effective vindication doctrine to strike down an ERISA plan arbitration clause, ruling that provisions preventing representative actions and plan-wide relief violate participants' substantive rights under federal law. This decision adds to a growing body of federal appellate precedent challenging the enforceability of arbitration clauses in 401(k) plans, raising critical questions about how plan sponsors should structure dispute resolution mechan

Host Michael Clear sits down with Andi Hughes from TrustHouse to explore how concierge home care services create comprehensive support systems for families facing cognitive decline, chronic illness, and behavioral health challenges. The discussion reveals strategies for building effective care teams and preventing caregiver burnout while maintaining dignity and independence. Learn how proactive planning and coordinated care can transform the experience of aging in place and managing complex health transitio

As children head back to school, California employees may need time away from work for school activities, childcare emergencies, disciplinary meetings, or to care for a sick child. Employers should keep the following California leave protections in mind for the 2026–2027 school year.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued guidance stating that most employer contributions to the newly created children’s “Trump Accounts,” or 530A accounts, will not trigger application of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted a new request for information (RFI) targeting pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) serving Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. CMS staffers intend to use the data they collect to implement new rules for PBMs serving those plans.

When workforce reductions happen in multiple waves across related corporate entities, how does federal law treat them in the aggregate? The recent Ubisoft layoffs at Red Storm Entertainment in North Carolina illustrate critical compliance questions under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act that every employer must understand before implementing workforce changes.

A federal district court ruling in Tennessee has determined that fully remote employees do not establish a "single site of employment" under the federal WARN Act, creating uncertainty for employers navigating workforce reductions in an increasingly remote-first business environment. With lower courts divided on this issue and no appellate guidance yet available, the legal landscape for WARN Act compliance in distributed workforces remains unsettled and fact-dependent.

As companies like Cisco, Amazon, and Meta announce layoffs while simultaneously reporting record profits, a troubling pattern emerges: are these workforce reductions truly driven by AI automation, or is something else at play? This analysis examines the phenomenon of "AI-washing" and explores whether artificial intelligence is genuinely replacing workers or simply serving as a convenient justification for cost-cutting measures that free up capital for future technology investments.

Family offices are grappling with mounting operational complexity, talent shortages, and succession challenges that strain traditional in-house models. As wealth structures expand across investments, entities, and philanthropic activities, many families are reconsidering whether every function should remain internal or if outsourced support could provide stronger continuity, specialized expertise, and improved coordination.

The modern workforce has transformed dramatically, with individuals building client bases and working across state lines through digital platforms. Yet the employment laws governing these arrangements often date back to the 1930s, creating complex legal challenges when contemporary business models collide with outdated regulatory frameworks. This discussion examines the critical questions surrounding independent contractors, joint employment, gig work, and workforce design in today's evolving labor landscap

Generative AI is fundamentally reshaping the economics that drove decades of outsourcing growth, automating routine tasks that companies previously sent offshore for cost savings. As AI capabilities expand, organizations face critical decisions about which work to keep in-house, what to automate, and how to restructure their relationships with outsourcing partners.