Legal obligations for employers typically concern topics like paid sick leave, antidiscrimination protection, and pay equity, but each year legislation also addresses niche or emerging areas or peculiar state-specific issues. The following are bills introduced or enacted in the last year that you may have missed.
Wage Payment Obligations
Employers usually pay wages via check, cash, direct deposit, or even payroll card, so few have had to consider other methods for delivering their compensation. Those operating in Missouri, however, should be aware of HB 754, enacted last year. Under this law, employees may request to be paid in physical or electronic specie currency, including (but not limited to) coins, bars, and ingots. If a Missouri employee requests that compensation be provided through one of these nontraditional methods, the employer may opt to switch their payroll method for that employee (if they can find enough gold bars, that is).
Additionally, since the United States Mint stopped producing pennies in November 2025, states and employers must grapple with the dwindling supply of one-cent coins. Thus, legislators in Maryland are considering SB 893, which would allow employers that pay wages in cash to round those amounts to avoid penny-related challenges on payday.
Unique Leaves
States are introducing increasingly specific protected employee leaves that may fly under the radar compared to high-profile paid sick and paid family leaves. Some bills would require...
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