The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed many difficult economic and social realities for working people in the United States. Agencies have not been immune from this phenomena, seeing once-in-a-generation staffing changes due to remote work and the lingering effects of the “Great Resignation”.

Now more than ever, agencies are hiring remote workers across multiple states and localities, bringing with it a new host employer responsibilities to navigate complicated, cross-jurisdictional labor law compliance. A patchwork of state laws, each with its own set of standards, now govern agencies operating across the U.S. in areas including paid family and medical leave, pay equity and transparency initiatives, fair chance hiring practices, employee electronic monitoring, and more.

Labor Issues We're Watching

fallback image
Federal Overtime Rule

Facing higher labor costs and increasing project cost unpredictability, learn more about how looming changes to the federal overtime rule changes could harm how agencies manage and grow their businesses.

Member Only
fallback image
Independent Contractors and Employee Classification Issues

Agencies rely heavily on contracted freelance talent to scale their workforces quickly in response to client project lifecycles. Increasing complexity and rigidity in state and federal worker classification laws may threaten these flexible and efficient staffing solutions.

Member Only

Paper

Wage Transparency Laws

Impact and Potential Approaches for Agencies:

The 4As Chief Talent & People Officer Committee recently met to discuss the ongoing changes in the U.S. across municipalities and states regarding wage transparency laws related to recruitment and job postings.

Member Only

Latest Labor News

campaign-convene-2026

03/04/2026

Campaign Convene 2026: The Advertising Industry Takes Stock

Agency leaders and brand marketers gathered at the third annual Campaign Convene conference to assess policy whiplash, DEI…

Member Only

03/02/2026

Trump DOL Issues New Proposed Independent Contractor Rule

On February 26, 2026, the Trump Administration’s Department of Labor (DOL) announced a new proposed independent contractor rule…

Member Only

08/29/2025

Florida Enacts CHOICE Act, Transforming Noncompete and Garden Leave Enforcement

Florida’s new Contracts Honoring Opportunity, Investment, Confidentiality, and Economic Growth (CHOICE) Act — which became law on July…

Member Only

06/17/2025

New York Becomes First State to Require Disclosure of AI-Driven Layoffs

New York has quietly become the first state to require employers to disclose when artificial intelligence contributes to…

Member Only
Someone writing in notebook

12/18/2024

New California Freelancer Law Takes Effect on January 1, 2025

On September 28, 2024, California Governor Gavin Newsom enacted SB 988, known as the Freelance Worker Protection Act (FWPA) that establishes baseline standards for contracts between freelance workers and private employers.

Member Only
fallback image

11/18/2024

U.S. District Court Invalidates Federal Overtime Rule; Returns Minimum Salary Threshold to ~$35.6K

On November 15, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued a ruling invalidating the Department of…

Member Only