Littler's Workplace Policy Institute^® (WPI™) presents the Insider Report, a monthly newsletter detailing key labor, employment, and benefits policy developments at the federal, state, local and global levels. This month's edition includes articles on federal agency priorities for the remainder of President Obama's term, which state bills are advancing, and how employers should respond when politics enters the workplace.

The Report includes the following sections:

Insider Briefing. On February 9, 2016, President Obama unveiled his budget for funding the federal government for FY 2017. Subject to congressional approval, the final budget that emerges from a Republican-controlled Congress will no doubt differ significantly from the President's request. Nonetheless, the President's last budget document reveals where his Administration would like to focus its resources during the President's final year in office.

On the Move. As Congress remained predictably stagnant, state and local legislatures were active in February 2016. Legislative bodies in 40 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, introduced over 270 labor- and employment-related bills and ordinances during this period. While this number is a drop from the over 400 such measures introduced in the first month of 2016, lawmakers began actively considering pending bills at the state and local levels.

In Focus. The 2016 election cycle began long before the first votes of the Presidential primary season were cast in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire. It will not end until November 8th when voters across the country head to the polls to determine the next occupants of the White House and various governors' mansions, as well as control of the U.S. Congress and state legislatures. In the interim, the heated debate on the campaign trail will no doubt make its way from town halls to dinner tables and to workplaces. How should employers respond when politics spills over to the workplace?  

Global Report. This section provides a roundup of international labor and employment news.

Outlook. A calendar of events provides information on upcoming regulatory comment deadlines, agency meetings, and related activities.

Click here to read the full Insider Report.

The WPI's next Insider Briefing Call is scheduled for Monday, March 7, at 10:00 am - 10:30 am PT; 11:00 am - 11:30 am MT; 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm CT; and 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm ET. WPI Co-Chair Ilyse Schuman, along with Littler expert and EEO & Diversity Group Co-Chair Barry Hartstein, will discuss what employers can expect from the Commission during the last year of the Obama Administration.  Dial-in: 844.323.0750; Conference Code: 61241672.