On April 23, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC“) published a final rule (the “Final Rule“) banning non-compete clauses. Under the Final Rule, most employers will be barred from entering into new agreements containing non-compete clauses and from enforcing certain existing non-compete clauses against their workers. The Final Rule will become effective 120 days…
Effective February 11, 2024, NYS General Law Section 518 lets New York businesses charge a credit card surcharge, BUT only as long as the price, including the surcharge, is posted upfront and doesn’t exceed the fees they pay to credit card companies. Here’s the major points of the new law: No Surcharges: Businesses cannot add…
BUSINESS OWNERS BEWARE – in its ongoing commitment to employee protection, the State of New York consistently introduces new laws that have a significant impact on employers, potentially impeding their companies and exposing them to the risk of fines and penalties for non-compliance. Minimum Wage Increase Effective January 1, 2024, the minimum wage payable to…
Starting January 1, 2024, a significant change in corporate reporting requirements comes into effect with the effective date of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). This new legislation mandates that certain types of companies must disclose specific ownership information to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Failure to comply with these reporting obligations can result in…
A Canadian judge made headlines on June 8, 2023 when he ruled a thumbs-up emoji was a sufficient acceptance in a contract between a farmer and a grain processing cooperative. A cooperative employee texted the farmer a picture of a proposed contract and asked him to confirm the agreement. The farmer texted back with a…
In its ongoing commitment to employee protection, the State of New York consistently introduces new laws that have a significant impact on employers, potentially impeding their companies and exposing them to the risk of fines and penalties for non-compliance. New York Employers with “No Fault” Attendance Policies Subject to Penalties for Disciplining Employees Who Take…
At a car dealership, a long-standing and trusted salesperson colluded with an accomplice to submit fraudulent loan applications, inflating vehicle prices and trade-in values. They pocketed a significant portion of the loan proceeds, eventually getting caught through an internal audit, leading to legal action and the dealership’s efforts to recover the funds and restore its…
IT’S A BRAVE NEW WORLD… As you probably have already heard, ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence (AI) system that provides a vast array of information including legal advice. The system, which was developed by a Silicon Valley startup, uses natural language processing and machine learning to answer basic legal questions. As a search engine, it…
