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The Littler Annual Employer Survey 2021 (PDF)

23 pages. "Employers planning for a transition to a post-pandemic workplace are faced with a host of novel issues – and addressing a disconnect with employees about what the future of work and the return to physical workspaces looks like is at the top of the list."

Health Care Reform: What are Key Considerations for Employers?

Excerpt: The new law will impose significant new responsibilities on employers nationwide that could, over time, fundamentally alter the nature of employer-sponsored health care and the employer-employee relationship. As employers look ahead to understand the implications of this sweeping legislation, we have provided questions and answers below to some of the most pressing issues they are likely to face. Additionally, Littler Mendelson is committed to educating employers about this legislation. To this end, we will be providing additional publications relating to how these new rules affect the following[.]

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Revises Guidelines on Its Paid Sick Days Act

"The PSDA Revised Guidelines both add new obligations and provide additional guidance to employers that provide paid sick leave to employees in the City. The Revised Guidelines will take effect on January 1, 2026 (when both the accrual rate and the amount of paid sick leave available under the PSDA will increase)."

IRS Extends Transition Relief for State Paid Family and Medical Leave Programs Through 2026

"The IRS explained that the extension is in response to requests from states administering PFML programs that need additional time to update systems, budgets, and reporting processes to align with the federal tax treatment clarified in Revenue Ruling 2025-4. Importantly, [Notice 2026-6] does not extend transition relief related to voluntary employer 'pick-up' contributions, which remain subject to federal employment tax and reporting requirements."

Delaware Adopts Amended Paid Leave Regulations on the Eve of Program’s Launch

"[The amended regulations] take effect on December 11, 2025 ... [and] will significantly impact many employers set to comply with the new program on January 1, 2026.... [T]he amended regulations [1] alter the definition of the 'application year,' which is used to determine benefit entitlement.... [2] modify the definition of 'employee.' ... [3] address the contributions that can be deducted from employee pay in certain circumstances.... [4] provide guidance for self-insured employers, particularly regarding requirements for claim reserve accounts, and modify information collected by the state."

New York City Amends Sick Time Law to Require New Unpaid Leave and Permit New Covered Uses

"The amended ESSTA requires employers to make available the additional 32 hours of unpaid safe/sick time immediately at hire, as well as to 'frontload' it at the start of each new benefit year. The unpaid safe/sick time may be used immediately by employees upon receipt. Further, under the amended ESSTA, if an employee communicates to their employer that they need time off for a purpose covered by safe/sick time, the employer must provide paid safe/sick time unless the employee has no such time available or the employee specifically requests to use other leave in lieu of paid safe/sick time."

New York Mandatory Employee Retirement Program to Be Implemented After Years of Delays

"New York Secure Choice ... mandates and facilitates the creation of Roth IRAs for private-sector employees who do not have access to a qualified retirement plan through their employers. Beginning in March of 2026, New York will require most private-sector employers to register for the Program or certify their exemption from the Program."

California Expands Paid Family Leave Eligibility to 'Designated Persons'

"PFL wage replacement benefits claims filed on or after July 1, 2028 will be available for employees who take time off work to care for a 'designated person' with a serious illness ... Employees will have to identify their 'designated person' at the time they request benefits and attest under penalty of perjury to either: [1] how the individual is related by blood to the designated person; or [2] how the individual's association with the designated person is the equivalent of a family relationship."

California Again Expands Reasons Employees Can Use Job-Protected Paid Sick and Safe Time, Unpaid Leave

"This year's amendments ... effective January 1, 2026 ... allow employees to use leave if they or a family member are a victim of certain crimes and are attending judicial proceedings related to that crime ... [T]he amendments -- effective on October 1, 2025 -- revise the paid leave law to incorporate by reference covered uses that already exist under the unpaid leave law:"

How Do Alaska's Final Paid Sick Leave Rules Differ from the Proposed Rules?

"[F]or employees who work at two or more rates the Department now allows both the previously proposed 'weighted average' method (for the workweek) and the 'rate in effect' method (for the shift).... Different standards apply depending on whether an employer has 15 or more, or 14 or fewer, employees. The final rule uses 'full-time equivalents (FTEs)' rather than 'employees.' ... A new rule ... requires an employer to establish a 'year' that is consecutive 52-week period. If it does not, the default year is the calendar year."