Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives

On February 26, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division proposed a new rule to determine whether workers are independent contractors or employees under federal wage-and-hour laws.

Join Hunton’s employment and immigration lawyers for a complimentary webinar, “Navigating 2026: Labor & Employment Law Updates Impacting Your Business.” This update will provide a concise overview of the most significant legal developments affecting employers this year.  

The National Labor Relations Board (“Board” or NLRB) can have up to five sitting Board members, but only three are needed for the NLRB to have a quorum. The Board had been without a quorum for most of last year but now has three sitting members thanks to two new additions last month. It marked the first time since the start of President Trump’s second term that a majority of Board members have been Republicans.

The National Labor Relations Board’s (“NLRB”) then-acting General Counsel recently issued Memorandum GC 26-01, announcing a new, agency-wide docketing procedure that significantly reshapes how charges are processed. This move comes in response to a growing backlog, which has been exacerbated by both the unprecedented 43-day government shutdown and persistent staffing shortages in regional offices.

The California Supreme Court is poised to address a fundamental question in employment law: Can an arbitration agreement be enforced when its operative terms are illegible?

As employers continue finding new ways to use artificial intelligence (“AI”) tools and software to support business operations, state legislators have taken notice.

California has enacted a number of new laws that will impact employers in 2026.  Please join Hunton’s California labor and employment lawyers as they discuss new legislation and other legal developments affecting employers.

Artificial intelligence (“AI”) has become an ever-increasing presence in the workplace.  AI can help employees focus on more meaningful work by eliminating certain rote tasks including note taking or transcribing meetings.  But, as with any workplace tool, some notes of caution are necessary.

The National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB” or “Board”) has a quorum for the first time in nearly a year. 

Every January, new California employment laws take effect and 2026 is no different, bringing changes to employment contracts, pay data reporting, paid family leave, and other employment-related topics. The following list highlights five new California employment laws for employers to be aware of in the year ahead.