Insights

On October 16, 2026, the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire denied Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, Inc.’s motion to dismiss the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission’s (EEOC) Title VII sex discrimination lawsuit arising from a women-only company-sponsored event. The Court held that the EEOC had “plausibly met” the applicable legal standard “by pointing to missed networking opportunities, the potential deprivation of paid time off, and the denial of perks including a company-paid hotel stay, food, and beverages.” This ruling is a clear sign that employer-sponsored events limited to employees of one sex carry legal risk, even when the employer’s intent is to address workforce imbalances or attendance at the event does not lead to measurable advantages. 

As the January 1, 2027, employer contribution implementation date approaches, employers should be aware of Maryland’s FAMLI Program obligations. 

On June 18, 2026, the Illinois Department of Labor took a long-anticipated step by adopting comprehensive amendments to 56 Ill. Adm. Code Part 320, the administrative rules implementing the pay transparency requirements of the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003 (820 ILCS 112, the Act).

In this episode, Crowell's Rebecca Springer, Sadina Montani, and Stephon Howie discuss some of the more significant recent changes to state and local employment laws, trends in this area, and how Crowell can help you keep up to date with the panoply of ever-evolving obligations. The Lightning Round podcast is Crowell's monthly rundown on developments and trends in the Labor and Employment space.

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