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Caged Bird HR 2027 Employment Law Tracker

2027 Employment Law Changes: What Employees Need to Know

New workplace protections, pay requirements, leave policies, and employment law updates taking effect in 2027. Written for employees, not HR compliance teams: what is changing, when it takes effect, who is covered, and what you should do differently.

  • Updated
  • Federal + state laws
  • Official sources
  • 8 verified changes
Find changes where you work

Find employment law changes in your state

Pick where you work and what you care about. Every entry links to its source and is marked as enacted, pending, proposed, delayed, or under litigation.

Showing 8 verified changes

EnactedEffective CaliforniaPay & Overtime

Minimum wage increases to $17.40/hour

California’s statewide minimum wage rises to $17.40 an hour. The minimum salary for many overtime-exempt roles rises to $72,384 a year.

What this means for you

  • Check your first January 2027 paycheck to confirm your hourly rate is at least $17.40, or higher if your city sets its own rate.
  • If you are paid a salary and classified as exempt, your pay should be at least $72,384 a year. If it is lower, ask HR how your role is classified.
  • Save your pay stubs and any messages about pay changes in Wrk Receipts so you have a clear record if something is wrong.
Official source: California Department of Industrial Relations(opens in a new tab)
Document it with Wrk ReceiptsBook a Discovery Call
EnactedEffective CaliforniaPaid Leave

Bereavement leave protections expand

Eligible employees can take protected bereavement leave after the death of more people in their lives, including certain designated persons.

What this means for you

  • Read your employer’s updated bereavement policy in early 2027 and note who now counts as a covered family member or designated person.
  • Ask for leave in writing and keep a copy of the request and the response.
  • If you are disciplined or treated differently after taking protected leave, write down what happened and when in Wrk Receipts.
Official source: California Civil Rights Department(opens in a new tab)
Document it with Wrk ReceiptsBook a Discovery CallNeed legal advice? Wrk Legal
EnactedEffective MarylandPaid Leave

Paid family and medical leave contributions begin

Payroll contributions for Maryland’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program begin. Eligible workers will not receive benefits until 2028.

What this means for you

  • Expect a new FAMLI deduction on your pay stub starting in January 2027.
  • Benefits are not available yet. If you need leave in 2027, existing protections such as FMLA may still apply.
  • Watch for state updates, since the program’s start dates have changed before.
Official source: Maryland FAMLI(opens in a new tab)
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EnactedEffective MinnesotaPay & Overtime

Minimum wage increases to $11.87/hour

Minnesota’s statewide minimum wage rises to $11.87 an hour. Minneapolis and St. Paul set higher local rates.

What this means for you

  • Check which rate applies where you physically work. City rates may be higher than the state rate.
  • Confirm the new rate on your first paycheck of 2027.
  • Keep pay stubs in Wrk Receipts so you can spot missed increases.
Official source: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry(opens in a new tab)
Document it with Wrk ReceiptsBook a Discovery Call
EnactedEffective New JerseyPay & Overtime

Minimum wage increases to $16.48/hour

New Jersey’s minimum wage for most employees rises to $16.48 an hour. Different rates apply to some groups, such as seasonal and small-employer workers.

What this means for you

  • Find the rate that applies to your job category on the state’s minimum wage page.
  • Confirm the new rate on your first paycheck of 2027.
  • Save pay records in Wrk Receipts if your pay does not change when it should.
Official source: New Jersey Department of Labor(opens in a new tab)
Document it with Wrk ReceiptsBook a Discovery Call
EnactedEffective WashingtonPay & Overtime

Minimum wage increases to $17.73/hour

Washington’s statewide minimum wage rises to $17.73 an hour. Some cities set higher local minimums.

What this means for you

  • Confirm your hourly rate in January 2027. If you work in a city with its own minimum, such as Seattle, the higher rate applies.
  • Overtime pay is based on your regular rate, so a raise in the minimum can also change your overtime pay.
  • Keep pay stubs and schedules in Wrk Receipts so you can check hours and rates over time.
Official source: Washington State Department of Labor & Industries(opens in a new tab)
Document it with Wrk ReceiptsBook a Discovery Call
EnactedEffective WashingtonPaid Leave

Paid family and medical leave premium increases to 1.2%

The total premium for Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave rises to 1.2% of wages. Employees pay a share through payroll deductions.

What this means for you

  • Expect a small change to the paid leave deduction on your pay stub starting in January 2027.
  • Your right to apply for paid leave benefits does not change. Apply through the state program, not only through your employer.
  • If a deduction looks wrong, ask payroll in writing and keep their reply.
Official source: Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave(opens in a new tab)
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EnactedEffective WashingtonWorker Protections

Noncompete restrictions change

Washington’s rules on noncompete agreements change on June 30, 2027. These rules affect when an employer can limit where you work after you leave.

What this means for you

  • Before you sign a new offer letter, promotion agreement, or severance agreement, look for any noncompete or nonsolicitation language.
  • Keep a copy of every agreement you sign, with the date you received it and the date you signed it.
  • If you are unsure whether a restriction is enforceable, talk with an employment attorney before you sign.
Official source: Washington noncompete law, RCW 49.62(opens in a new tab)
Need legal advice? Wrk LegalBook a Discovery Call

Featured 2027 changes

  • Pay & Overtime

    Minimum wages and salary thresholds

    • California: Minimum wage increases to $17.40/hourEffective January 1, 2027
    • Washington: Minimum wage increases to $17.73/hourEffective January 1, 2027
    • New Jersey: Minimum wage increases to $16.48/hourEffective January 1, 2027
    • Minnesota: Minimum wage increases to $11.87/hourEffective January 1, 2027

  • Paid Leave

    Family, medical, sick and bereavement leave

    • California: Bereavement leave protections expandEffective January 1, 2027
    • Washington: Paid family and medical leave premium increases to 1.2%Effective January 1, 2027
    • Maryland: Paid family and medical leave contributions beginEffective January 1, 2027

  • Worker Protections

    Retaliation, discrimination and restrictive agreements

    • Washington: Noncompete restrictions changeEffective June 30, 2027

  • Layoffs & AI

    Job decisions, surveillance and notices

    No verified 2027 entries yet. We are tracking proposals on layoff notices, automated hiring tools, and workplace surveillance and will add them once they are confirmed.

2027 employment law calendar

Upcoming changes, by the month they take effect.

    • EnactedJan 1, 2027CaliforniaMinimum wage increases to $17.40/hour
    • EnactedJan 1, 2027CaliforniaBereavement leave protections expand
    • EnactedJan 1, 2027WashingtonMinimum wage increases to $17.73/hour
    • EnactedJan 1, 2027WashingtonPaid family and medical leave premium increases to 1.2%
    • EnactedJan 1, 2027New JerseyMinimum wage increases to $16.48/hour
    • EnactedJan 1, 2027MinnesotaMinimum wage increases to $11.87/hour
    • EnactedJan 1, 2027MarylandPaid family and medical leave contributions begin

    • EnactedJun 30, 2027WashingtonNoncompete restrictions change

Status key: Enacted, Pending, Proposed, Delayed, Under litigation. Only enacted changes are listed at launch.

2027 changes by state

States with verified 2027 updates have their own page. More states are added as changes are confirmed.

When a new law is not followed, records matter

If your pay does not change when it should, a leave request is denied, or you are treated differently after using a new protection, write it down while it is fresh. Wrk Receipts helps you organize pay stubs, messages, and notes into a clear timeline. If your situation may need legal advice, Wrk Legal can connect you with an employment attorney.

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Caged Bird HR is not a law firm. This guide is general HR information, not legal, tax, or financial advice, and reading it does not create a consultant or attorney relationship. Laws and deadlines vary by state. For legal advice about your situation, talk to a licensed employment attorney.