If you manage employees, you’ve faced FMLA requests that raise questions about compliance. The American Bar Association’s 2025 FMLA litigation summary reveals four key trends that should inform how you handle employee leave.

Interference Claims: Granting Leave Does Not End Your Obligations

A recurring pattern emerged in 2025: courts rejected the argument that providing an

Generative AI is quickly becoming part of the legal toolkit but the ethical obligations of lawyers haven’t changed. In this episode of From Lawyer to Employer, host Dan Schwartz sits down with Shipman attorney Claire Pariano to explore how generative AI is reshaping legal practice and what in-house counsel need to know to stay

Two months into the new year, federal labor agencies have announced significant regulatory changes that could reshape how your business engages staffing agencies, contractors, and gig workers. 

On February 26, 2026, the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) formally reinstated its 2020 joint employer rule, while the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) proposed returning to the

Maybe.

In a novel decision, the New Jersey Supreme Court held in Rutgers v. AFSCME, Local 888, that the 2020 Title IX regulations preempted the grievance procedure in a collective bargaining agreement with a state university because the grievance procedure was in direct conflict with Title IX regulations.  The decision tracks the well-known principle

A challenge by the Connecticut Business & Industry Association (“CBIA”) to Connecticut’s so-called “captive audience” law failed when a federal court in Connecticut found that the CBIA lacked standing to bring the claim.  The decision is a setback to those challenging the law, which bars mandatory employer meetings on political and religious topics.

The decision by

Arbitration clauses are everywhere in today’s workplace — but are they right for your organization?

In this episode of From Lawyer to Employer, host Dan Schwartz is joined by Shipman attorney Emily McDonough Souza to break down arbitration agreements in plain English. They explore the real pros and cons: speed, privacy, predictability, cost concerns

In a significant decision for Connecticut employers, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled in Del Rio v. Amazon.com Services, Inc. (SC 21109) that employees must be compensated for time spent undergoing mandatory security screenings on their employer’s premises. The unanimous decision establishes that Connecticut wage laws are more protective than federal law on this issue. 

Background

Massachusetts continues to be one of the most active and technical states for employment law compliance. In this episode of From Lawyer to Employer, host Dan Schwartz is joined by Shipman partner Jared Lucan to break down the most important developments impacting employers with Massachusetts-based employees (or operations spanning both Massachusetts and Connecticut).

They cover

On January 22, 2026, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission voted 2-1 to rescind its 2024 Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace effective immediately.  The recission comes as no surprise, as Chair Andrea Lucas of the EEOC signaled her opposition to portions of the guidance almost a year ago.  Although the development is technically