Labor and employment law has undergone major changes in recent years, and this CLE program highlights three key areas where those shifts are most visible: child labor, union activity, and non-compete agreements.

Child labor protections, once thought settled, are facing renewed scrutiny. Disturbing cases of child exploitation have surfaced, and some states have responded not by strengthening safeguards, but by loosening restrictions—allowing minors to work longer hours or in riskier environments.

Meanwhile, unions gained traction under the Biden Administration, with the NLRB issuing favorable rulings and major companies like Amazon and Starbucks seeing organizing efforts succeed. But with a less union-friendly Administration now in office—and legal challenges underway, including the contested removal of an NLRB member—this momentum may stall or reverse.

Finally, non-compete clauses are in flux. The FTC’s attempted nationwide ban was blocked in court and is currently on appeal, while some states have advanced their own restrictions. For now, non-competes remain legally enforceable in many jurisdictions, but their future is uncertain.

Attorneys advising employers, workers, or unions will come away with a clearer view of this rapidly evolving legal landscape.