Illinois has entered a pivotal year for workplace regulation. Employers face a series of new requirements, with significant and wide-ranging changes—from paid lactation breaks and NICU leave to expanded whistleblower protections, stricter contract rules, and new obligations around AI use in hiring and employment decisions. These new laws will reshape policies on employment agreements, leave
The Employer Report provides legal updates and practical insights about the latest labor and employment issues affecting US multinationals, at both the domestic and global level.
Readers Choice
October 2019
Latest from The Employer Report
Pre-emption by Executive Order: Trump Order Moves to Block State AI Laws
On December 11, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order on “Ensuring A National Policy Framework For Artificial Intelligence” (the “Order”). The Order represents the Administration’s latest and most pointed attempt to stop and reverse the wave of state AI legislation that has emerged over the preceding year, which the Order asserts “creates a patchwork
Cutting Costs Without Cutting Corners: 10 Practical Tips for Managing Legal Risk in Global Reductions in Force
In 2025, multinational giants across industries are redefining the scale and scope of global workforce reductions—with some cutting tens of thousands of jobs at a time in particular divisions, shuttering certain factories worldwide, moving to different countries, or otherwise undertaking large-scale restructuring—and this trend is likely to press on. Indeed, the World Economic Forum’s Chief
Beyond Noncompetes – Why Trade Secret Protection is an Employer Must-Have (Video Chat)
As noncompete agreements continue to face legal scrutiny, employers are focusing on trade secret protection as a more sustainable strategy.
For employers, this shift raises a host of practical questions:
- What’s happening with noncompete enforcement at the federal and state levels?
- How can employers tailor noncompetes to remain compliant?
- Why are trade secrets gaining traction
US AI Vision in Action: What Businesses Need to Know About the White House AI Action Plan
On July 23, the White House unveiled its much-anticipated AI Action Plan. The Action Plan follows President Trump’s Executive Order 14179 of January 23 on “Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence”—which directed the development of the Action Plan within 180 days—and subsequent consultation with stakeholders to “define the priority policy actions needed
Navigating Labor’s Response to AI: Proactive Strategies for Multinational Employers Across the Atlantic
As AI adoption accelerates across workplaces, labor organizations around the world are beginning to take notice—and action. The current regulatory focus in the US centers on state-specific laws like those in California, Illinois, Colorado and New York City, but the labor implications of AI are quickly becoming a front-line issue for unions, potentially signaling a
Top Strategies to Safeguard Tech Trade Secrets
Trade secrets give tech companies a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving landscape, where success depends on the ability to innovate. The unauthorized acquisition, use, or disclosure of trade secrets can result in significant loss and disruption, making it essential for organizations to have robust safeguards in place to protect their trade secrets. Here, we explore
Complying with the AI Act: Navigating HR Challenges in the EU (Webinar)
On 2 February 2025 the first deadlines under the EU AI Act took effect. This included the AI literacy provisions, responsibility for which will likely be with HR teams and the ban on prohibited AI systems. What do these and other upcoming changes under the Act mean for in-scope employers?
In this webinar, our
Passage of Reintroduced California AI Bill Would Result In Onerous New Compliance Obligations For Covered Employers
Shortly after taking office, President Trump rescinded Biden’s Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence. Biden’s Executive Order sought to regulate the development, deployment, and governance of artificial intelligence within the US, identifying security, privacy and discrimination as particular areas of concern. Trump signed his own executive order titled “Removing Barriers
Now available – Baker’s 2025 Global Data & Cyber Handbook
This Baker Mckenzie Handbook covers key data and cyber laws in over 50 jurisdictions, and provides valuable insights into:
- Key laws and regulations, including recent changes and expected developments over the next year
- Foundational data privacy obligations including information and notification requirements, data subject rights, accountability and governance measures, and responsibilities of data controllers and