Navigating 2026: Key Trends/Developments in Employee Leave and Wage and Hour Laws

Scott Connolly and Kate Rigby, Members of the Firm, speak at Navigating 2026: Key Trends/Developments in Employee Leave and Wage & Hour Laws, a program hosted by the Association of Corporate Counsel's (ACC's) Northeast Chapter and sponsored by Epstein Becker Green.

This half-day morning program highlights the evolving landscape in employee leave (medical leave) and wage and hour law.

This event offers an opportunity to network with other in-house professionals and Epstein Becker Green attorneys.  There will be ample time for questions, and breakfast will be provided.

Scott joins Session I: Navigating Complex Leave Issues. Kate joins Session II: Wage and Hour Compliance.

Session I: Navigating Complex Leave Issues

Employers continue to adjust to the complexities of the post-pandemic workplace with a mix of office-based, hybrid and remote workers, alongside continued changes in the employment law landscape.

This session will help equip in-house lawyers with insights and tools to effectively navigate the legal minefield of protected medical leaves (like FMLA and MMLA) and other accommodation issues in the workplace, through practical compliance strategies.

Attendees will gain insights into:

• Key updates and trends in ADA, FMLA, and state-specific leave laws;
• Recent decisions and high-impact cases reshaping the interactive process, undue hardship analyses, and return-to-work obligations;
• Challenges in handling mental health, remote work, and intermittent leave requests—and how courts and agencies are responding;
• Best practices for documentation, communication, and managing the interactive process to avoid common pitfalls; and,
• Practical strategies to ensure consistency, limit exposure, and align policies with the rapidly evolving workplace and legal landscape.

Session II: Wage and Hour Compliance

In today’s rapidly evolving employment landscape, wage and hour compliance has become one of the most significant sources of legal exposure for employers. With federal and state regulators increasing enforcement efforts—and plaintiffs’ attorneys sharpening their focus—staying ahead of wage and hour legal developments is essential for every in-house employment lawyer.

This session provides a comprehensive, practical update on the latest wage and hour laws, key regulatory changes, and the most impactful recent cases shaping employer obligations.

Attendees will gain insights into:

• Current developments in federal and state wage and hour laws, including overtime, independent contractor classification, and pay transparency requirements;
• Recent litigation trends and landmark cases—and what they signal for future enforcement;
• Common compliance pitfalls faced by multi-state employers;
• Practical strategies for conducting internal audits, managing risk, and building defensible wage and hour practices; and,
• Proactive tips to ensure policies, systems, and documentation align with evolving legal standards.

This session will help you and your HR department navigate 2026 and start the year with tools to better manage difficult situations when they arise.

For more information, visit ACC.com.