States Expand Employment Protections Amid Federal Guidance Withdrawals

Federal agencies withdrew or rescinded multiple employment guidance documents in 2024–2025, leaving employers with reduced federal direction on harassment, AI use in hiring, and Pregnant Workers Fairness Act compliance. States including California, Illinois and New Jersey have enacted broader protections such as intersectionality, family-caregiver status and expanded leave. The patchwork increases compliance costs and forces multi-state employers to adopt state-specific policies, training, and legal reviews.