North America: Employment and HR

As federal enforcement priorities shift and state laws continue to evolve, how are recent regulatory developments reshaping the conversation around noncompetes in the maritime industry? This discussion examines the Federal Trade Commission's move away from pursuing a broad ban in favor of case-by-case enforcement, while exploring where maritime employers are most likely to encounter legal challenges and how companies can protect proprietary information while minimizing legal risk.

Connecticut employers that rely on AI-driven tools for recruiting, screening, or workforce management now face a detailed statutory framework governing those practices. Public Act No. 26-15 (the “Act”) was signed into law on June 2, 2026. The Act addresses subjects ranging from automated hiring technology to whistleblower channels for employees at AI developers. The compliance timeline is staggered: some provisions took effect immediately, while the most operationally intensive obligations take effect in October 2027.

Chicago’s landmark Paid Leave and Paid Sick and Safe Leave Ordinance (the “Ordinance”) reshaped how employers manage time-off benefits for their Chicago workforces.