What Now? EEOC Regains Quorum
On October 7, 2025, the Senate confirmed Brittany Panuccio as the third commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), restoring the EEOC’s quorum and decision-making authority.
U.S. Supreme Court Sends Message to Employers: Employee Travel Between Job Sites Is Paid Work
On October 6, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) denied certiorari for Department of Labor v. Nursing Home Care Management Inc.—an opinion by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit holding that the Fair Labor Standards Act requires compensation for travel time between job sites.
The Jack Reid Law: What New York Independent Schools Need to Know About Bullying and Harassment Protections for Students
On October 23, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law the Jack Reid Law. Accordingly, New York independent schools will need to adhere to additional requirements as part of their effort to protect students from bullying and harassment.
Attorney Spotlight
Sandy Schlesinger: With the holiday season fast approaching, it’s easy for year-end celebrations and vacation plans to take priority—but employers should not let workplace responsibilities slip through the cracks. First, employers should review mandatory training and compliance deadlines to ensure all required training—such as harassment prevention, safety, and code of conduct refreshers—are completed before year-end. Second, company parties are a great way to celebrate the season and show appreciation for employees, but remind employees that workplace policies (such as anti-harassment, anti-discrimination, and code of conduct standards) still apply. Finally, now’s the time for employers to plan ahead for the new year—review handbook policies and employment contracts to make sure they’re legally compliant for 2026. While it’s easy to lose sight of these tasks during this time of year, maintaining clear communication and strategic planning is important to achieving a smooth and legally compliant transition into 2026.
In Case You Missed It
New Safe and Sick Leave Requirements in New York City
Recently enacted amendments to the New York City Earned Safe and Sick Time Act (ESSTA) will go into effect February 22, 2026. Employers in New York City should familiarize themselves with the new requirements for usage and recordkeeping under the ESSTA, revise their employee handbook promptly in advance of February, and train supervisory and human resources employees on the amended requirements.
We Want to Hear from You
What legal issues are keeping you up at night?
We are continuing to monitor key trends and significant updates that affect employers across a wide variety of industries. We want to make sure we touch upon issues that are of concern to you. We invite you to take a moment and let us know what you would like to hear more about in this newsletter. Click below to email our team of attorneys.
About the Labor and Employment Group
The national, 40-person Labor and Employment team at Venable provides guidance and support across the full spectrum of workplace dynamics – helping employers control costs, avoid disputes, and defend themselves when litigation arises. Allison Gotfried, editor of this newsletter, invites you to share the content with your colleagues and reach out with any questions.