Tag Archives: Colorado

Under the POWR Act, Colorado Workplace Harassment Law Departs from Federal Standards

Photo of Nathan A. SchachtPhoto of Alexis OpperBy Nathan A. Schacht and Alexis Opper on Posted in Harassment
In the next two months, significant changes are coming to Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Act, otherwise known as CADA. The Protecting Opportunities and Workers’ Rights (POWR) Act creates a new, lower standard for workplace harassment, in addition to limiting the enforceability of nondisclosure agreements and creating new recordkeeping obligations for employers. The POWR Act was signed by … Continue Reading

Colorado Approves Changes to Unemployment Insurance Notices

Photo of Jacob A. BrunerPhoto of Alexis OpperBy Jacob A. Bruner and Alexis Opper on Posted in Colorado, Wage and Hour
This past spring, Colorado legislators enacted several new employment-related laws, including Senate Bill 22-234. The bill provides $600 million in federal pandemic relief funds to replenish Colorado’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and updates the notice requirements employers must follow when providing employees with information about unemployment insurance. … Continue Reading

Colorado Supreme Court Resolves ‘Use-It-or-Lose-It’ Conundrum in Decision Providing Long-Awaited Clarity for Employers

Photo of Jacob A. BrunerPhoto of Nathan A. SchachtBy Jacob A. Bruner and Nathan A. Schacht on Posted in Colorado
On June 14, 2021, the Colorado Supreme Court issued its highly anticipated decision in Nieto v. Clark’s Market, ruling that employers must pay out an employee’s earned but unused vacation pay upon separation of employment, even where an agreement or policy authorizing forfeiture of such pay exists. The impact of the ruling is significant, as … Continue Reading

Colorado Joins Coalition of States Expanding Antidiscrimination Laws to Include Protections for Gender Identity and Gender Expression

Photo of Nathan A. SchachtPhoto of Jacob A. BrunerBy Nathan A. Schacht and Jacob A. Bruner on Posted in Colorado
On May 20, 2021, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed into law HB21-1108, known as the Gender Identity Expression Anti-Discrimination Act (the Act). In relevant part, the Act updates Colorado’s nondiscrimination provisions applicable to individuals seeking protection on the basis of “sexual orientation,” including by adding the terms “gender expression” and “gender identity” to 48 areas … Continue Reading

Coloradans Vote to Give All Employees in the State Paid Family and Medical Leave

Photo of Nathan A. SchachtPhoto of Keeley O. CroninBy Nathan A. Schacht and Keeley O. Cronin on Posted in Colorado
On November 3, 2020, Colorado voters placed their ballots in favor of Proposition 118 – a first-of-its-kind ballot initiative. In passing the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act (FAMLI), Colorado joined just eight other states and the District of Columbia in creating a state-level paid family and medical leave program. The benefits under FAMLI … Continue Reading

Reminder: Beginning Jan. 1, Colorado Employers Have Strict Requirements Under the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act

Photo of Nathan A. SchachtPhoto of Jacob A. BrunerBy Nathan A. Schacht and Jacob A. Bruner on Posted in Wage and Hour
As we reported in our blog post in June 2019, last year, Colorado started the process of tightening its protections for pay equity. The state’s Equal Pay for Equal Work Act (the Act), which was signed into law last year, takes effect on Jan. 1, 2021, and results in requirements that employers should immediately consider. … Continue Reading

Colorado Issues Sweeping Wage and Hour Law Changes for Private Employers Through New Wage Order

Photo of Jacob A. BrunerPhoto of Nathan A. SchachtBy Jacob A. Bruner and Nathan A. Schacht on Posted in Wage and Hour
Effective March 16, 2020, COMPS Order #36 (the Order), issued by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, will bring about sweeping changes to Colorado’s overtime and minimum pay standards (COMPS) impacting private employers. The Order will also succeed the currently operative Amended Minimum Wage Order #35, which is the source of Colorado’s wage rights … Continue Reading

Colorado Shores Up Employee Protections for Criminal History Inquiries, Wage Theft and Pay Equity During Busy 2019 Legislative Session

Photo of Nathan A. SchachtBy Nathan A. Schacht on Posted in Policies, Wage and Hour
Colorado’s 2019 legislative session was busy, including producing a trio of new employment laws that tighten regulations on employers in the areas of pay equity, criminal history inquiries and wage theft. Employers face comprehensive changes and should review pay practices, application processes, advancement and promotion policies, and employee record-keeping to comply with these new laws.… Continue Reading

New Year, New Colorado Employment Laws

Photo of Nathan A. SchachtBy Nathan A. Schacht on Posted in Wage and Hour
As Coloradans rang in 2015, new Colorado employment laws and regulations were also ushered into effect. These laws, all effective January 1, 2015, add protections and generally benefit employees while likely creating new compliance requirements (and, potentially, headaches) for Colorado employers. Colorado Minimum Wage Effective January 1, 2015, Colorado’s minimum wage rose $.23 — to … Continue Reading
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