Navigating Compliance: NLRA, CBAs, and the Evolving Landscape of Sick and Safe Leave Laws (Presented by The Federal Bar Annual Meeting & Convention 2025 sponsor Cozen O’Connor)

This session explores the evolution of employer-provided sick leave benefits, from market-driven perks to strategic recruitment tools. It examines how collective bargaining agreements traditionally addressed paid time off and the key differences between union and non-union approaches.

This session traces the rise of mandated paid sick leave from San Francisco’s 2006 ordinance through the pandemic-driven Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Attendees will learn about the current landscape of 25 states and 25 municipalities with paid sick leave laws and how preemption issues are shaping enforcement.

This session examines common conflicts between paid sick leave mandates and existing CBAs, including notice requirements, accrual rates, and documentation standards. Participants will review key arbitration decisions, recent class actions, and agency enforcement approaches that are shaping employer compliance obligations.

This session identifies common employer missteps such as inadvertent retaliation through no-fault attendance policies and insufficient waiver language in CBAs. Attendees will receive practical guidance on training frontline managers, engaging unions proactively, and developing compliant policies in a multi-jurisdictional environment.