Washington Employers: Prepare for Hiring Practice Shifts as New Background Check Requirements Take Effect in 2026 + 2027

Richard I. Greenberg, Susan M. Corcoran, Michael A. Griffin, Brian K. Keeley - Jackson Lewis

In the 2025 legislative session, Washington State expanded its Fair Chance Act in a number of different ways to impose additional limits on employers’ criminal background inquiries of applicants and employees. The changes go into effect for medium and large employers in July 2026 and for small employers in January 2027, giving employers plenty of time to get ready.

Employers with employees in the City of Seattle are already subject to most of these new requirements and restrictions. Therefore, the changes to state law will supplement those Seattle requirements and apply to employers throughout the State.

Read more: https://www.jacksonlewis.com/insights/washington-employers-prepare-hiring-practice-shifts-new-background-check-requirements-take-effect-2026-2027

AI in the Workplace: The New Legal Landscape Facing US Employers

by Kimberley Lunetta, Michael Schlemmer, Zachary Shine - Morgan Lewis - JD Supra

Artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly transforming the employment landscape, automating tasks, streamlining processes, and enhancing decision-making. At the same time, the technology raises concerns about potential biases, accuracy, and increasingly complex legal compliance.

As AI’s influence grows in the United States, so too has government oversight. Lawmakers and policymakers—from the Biden administration to city governments—have issued guidance, policies, and laws to govern the use of AI in the workplace, giving employers a new legal landscape to navigate.

Read more: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/ai-in-the-workplace-the-new-legal-8539979

What Employers Should Know About the New California Privacy Law

by Davis Wright Tremain LLP, Mark Berry, Grace Thompson - JDSupra

Beginning January 1, 2023, companies with employees or contractors in California may need to comply with a new, robust data privacy law. In 2020, California voters approved the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), which modified the existing California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), broadening its obligations from consumer information to employment data (among other changes)

Read more: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/what-employers-should-know-about-the-4366208/