The Rocky Mountain Employer

“The Rocky Mountain Employer has been tracking how the Trump Administration has taken aim at “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (“DEI”) policies and initiatives since President Trump issued several Executive Orders targeting the same in the first few days of his term. Outside of the obligations communicated in such Executive Orders, it was not exactly clear how the Trump Administration intended to achieve its anti-DEI objectives.  However, on May 19, 2025, United States Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche indicated in a memorandum that the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) would utilize the False Claims Act (“FCA”) as a part of its “Civil Rights Fraud Initiative” (“Initiative”) to combat illegal DEI initiatives utilized by federal contractors and recipients of federal funds.”

“Last December, the Rocky Mountain Employer discussed the Colorado labor movement’s push to eliminate the Colorado Labor Peace Act’s (“LPA” or the “Act”) current requirement for a second election to determine whether a union can negotiate for union security agreements.[1]  As a result of those efforts, the Colorado Senate introduced and eventually passed Senate Bill 25-005 (“SB25-005”) through the General Assembly after contentious negotiations between labor and employer advocacy groups.[2]  But, on May 16, 2025, Governor Polis vetoed the bill,[3] setting back (for now) the labor movement’s push to eliminate Colorado’s unique status as a “modified” right-to-work state.”

“The Rocky Mountain Employer has been tracking the status of House Bill 25-1001 (“HB-25-1001”) since it was first introduced in the Colorado General Assembly. As of May 6, 2025, HB25-1001 has passed through the General Assembly (with notable changes from its original version, discussed below) and, if signed into law by Governor Polis, will create even more exposure for employers for wage and hour violations under Colorado law by expanding the definition of “employer;” by expanding employer accountability; by requiring a court to find that an employee pursued a wage claim that lacked substantial justification before awarding an employer reasonable costs and attorneys’ fees; and by expanding avenues of recovery against employer retaliation and discrimination, among myriad other things.”

“The Rocky Mountain Employer has been tracking Senate Bill 25-144 (“SB25-144”) since it was first introduced in the Colorado General Assembly during the current legislative session. As previously discussed, SB25-144, if signed into law, will affect both employee and employer rights and responsibilities under Colorado’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act and program (“FAMLI”).  On May 2, 2025, the Colorado General Assembly passed SB25-144 and sent the bill to Governor Polis for his signature.  Assuming Governor Polis does not veto the bill, qualifying employees will be entitled to additional leave benefits if their child is receiving inpatient care in a neonatal intensive care unit (“NICU”), starting in 2026.  Further, if signed into law, SB25-144 will set the parameters for the establishment of premium amounts for the FAMLI program for the next several years. “

“The first few months of President Trump’s second presidential term have been characterized by an unprecedented number of Executive Orders—many of which have been directed towards curbing or prohibiting both public and private diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) initiatives in the workplace. On April 23, 2025, the President issued Executive Order 14281—entitled “Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy”—which goes even further and seeks to curtail or eliminate the use or application of disparate impact liability among federal agencies charged with investigating or preventing prohibited discrimination, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”). “

“As part of the Colorado General Assembly’s 2025 Regular Session, the Colorado Senate introduced a bill—Senate Bill 25-083 (“SB25-083”)—that would effectively ban nearly all non-compete agreements for medical professionals. SB25-083 was passed by the full General Assembly as of April 21, 2025, and if Governor Polis signs the bill into law, the use of most restrictive covenants in employment agreements with physicians, physician assistants, certified midwives, dentists, and advanced practice registered nurses entered into after the bill’s August 6, 2025, effective date will be prohibited.”

“The Rocky Mountain Employer has closely followed President Trump’s ousting of National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB” or the “Board”) member Gwynne Wilcox and the ensuing developments in her lawsuit against the President.  Last week, the Rocky Mountain Employer reported that Member Wilcox successfully petitioned the full panel of D.C. Circuit judges (the “Panel”) to reverse, en banc, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit’s (the “Court of Appeals”) stay of U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell’s order reinstating Member Wilcox to her Board seat. However, Member Wilcox’s victory was once again short-lived, as Chief Justice Roberts of the Supreme Court of the United States (“SCOTUS”) reversed the Panel’s decision on April 9, 2025, and ruled that Member Wilcox’s termination is to stay in place pending a further order from himself or SCOTUS.” 

“The Rocky Mountain Employer has closely followed President Trump’s ousting of National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB” or the “Board”) member Gwynne Wilcox and the ensuing developments in her lawsuit against the President.  Just last week, the Rocky Mountain Employer reported that the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit granted a stay of District Judge Beryl Howell’s order to reinstate Member Wilcox, and Circuit Judge Walker opined that he believed the President was likely to prevail on the merits based on the scope of his authority under the Constitution. The tide has turned yet again, however, as the full panel of D.C. Circuit judges (the “Panel”) have reversed, en banc, the original stay granted by the D.C. Circuit, thereby reinstating Judge Howell’s original order to reinstate Member Wilcox to the NLRB.”  

“The Rocky Mountain Employer previously discussed the District Court for the District of Columbia’s decision in Wilcox v. Trump, in which Judge Beryl Howell ruled that President Trump’s termination of National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) member Gwynne Wilcox was illegal, and ordered that Ms. Wilcox be reinstated. However, on March 28, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit granted a stay of Judge Howell’s order, while opining that President Donald Trump will likely succeed on his claim that he has the constitutional authority to remove appointees to federal agency boards, like Member Wilcox. “

“This week, Chief Judge Brimmer of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado (“USDC”) analyzed in Commissiong v. The Center at Lincoln, LLC (the “TCL Suit”) the question of which statutory provision governs the statute of limitations for civil theft claims under Colorado law.  The Court ultimately held that Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-101(1)(h) controls, thereby imposing a three-year statute of limitations for civil theft claims, which at least helps to resolve a long-unsettled question as to whether civil theft claims are governed by a three-year limitations period under Section 13-80-101 or a two-year limitations period for tort actions, generally.”

“Upon his return to office, President Trump issued two notable Executive Orders (“EOs”)—EO 14151 and EO 14173—specifically targeted at diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the federal government and beyond.  On February 21, 2025, Judge Adam Abelson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland issued a nationwide injunction against certain portions of the EOs, finding that the plaintiffs had shown a likelihood of success on the merits that the EOs violated the First and Fifth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Now, the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has unanimously reversed the lower court’s denial of the President’s requested stay of the injunction pending the merits of an appeal, with certain panel judges taking the opportunity to opine on DEI programs at large. “

“In an emphatic decision, Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordered President Trump to reinstate National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB” or the “Board”) Member Gwynne A. Wilcox to her Board seat. The President fired Wilcox, asserting unitary power over employees in the executive branch. Rejecting this broad construction of executive authority, Judge Howell concluded that Congress meant for some federal employees to be beyond the President’s reach except in limited circumstances.”

“Last week, the United States Supreme Court (“SCOTUS”) heard oral argument on Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services (“Ames”), a case based on a claim of reverse discrimination and previously discussed in the Rocky Mountain Employer.  The Justices’ comments during the oral argument indicate a strong likelihood that SCOTUS will reject the “background circumstances” test utilized in multiple federal Circuits (including the Tenth Circuit) in reverse discrimination cases, thereby lowering the prima facie burden required to state reverse discrimination claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.”

“Two weeks ago, the Rocky Mountain Employer discussed recent bills from the Colorado General Assembly proposing certain changes to paid family and medical leave laws in Colorado. The General Assembly is now also considering a bill which would affect employers’ allowable tip credits in food and beverage-based industries where local minimum wages are higher than Colorado’s statewide minimum wage. If passed, House Bill 25-1208 (“HB25-1208”) would permit employers in localities with higher minimum wages to take concomitantly higher tip credits against such wages for employees who regularly and customarily receive tips as part of their income.”

“On February 14, 2025, newly-appointed General Counsel of the NLRB (“GC”), William Cowen, issued Memorandum GC 25-05, which rescinded no less than 31 previously-issued General Counsel Memoranda. Out of the rescinded memoranda, 18 were issued by GC Jennifer Abruzzo, who was nominated for the position by President Biden in 2021 and fired from that position shortly after President Trump took office, demonstrating that the new, Trump-led NLRB will aim to reverse its pro-labor stance on many labor law issues.”

“As part of the Colorado General Assembly’s 2025 Regular Session, the Colorado Senate has introduced two new and very different bills potentially affecting both employee and employer rights and responsibilities under Colorado’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act and program (“FAMLI”).  One bill, SB25-144, seeks to provide additional leave benefits under certain circumstances and to set certain parameters on the Director of the FAMLI Division’s establishment of premium amounts for the program in future years.  The other, SB25-074, seeks to carve out certain employers who employ a majority of “highly specialized employees” from FAMLI’s employment protection requirements.”

“Introduced in the Colorado General Assembly on January 8, 2025, House Bill 25-1001 (“HB 25-1001”) represents the latest attempt by legislators to find common ground with Governor Jared Polis on the issue of confronting wage theft after Governor Jared Polis vetoed House Bill 24-1008 in the summer of 2024.  If signed into law as is, HB 25-1001 would create even more exposure for employers (and even those who would not normally consider themselves employers) for wage and hour violations under Colorado law by enhancing penalties; expanding accountability; and empowering employees in pre-suit settlement negotiations.  However, HB 25-1001 still has a long road ahead of it before it can be signed into law.”

“President Donald Trump has issued a flurry of Executive Orders in his first few days in office that aim to eliminate “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (“DEI”) policies in the private and public sphere.  President Trump’s Executive Order titled, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” (the “Order”), revokes decades-old Executive Order 11246, which, among other things, aimed to ensure that private sector employers working for the federal government under contract did not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.  However, despite the Order, private employers with DEI policies need not and should not eliminate these policies without a thorough audit of the same.”

“Multiple states are joining Colorado in implementing state-run paid family and medical leave programs, similar to Colorado’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance program (“FAMLI Program”). The adoption of these programs raises questions regarding the interplay and coordination between the benefits and protections afforded by the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), state-run paid family leave programs like the FAMLI Program, and employer-provided benefits such as short-term disability, paid sick leave, and other paid time off—particularly as to when and how employees may supplement either unpaid FMLA leave or state-run paid family leave with employer-provided benefits.  In a January 14, 2025 Opinion Letter, the U.S. Department of Labor has attempted to answer some of these questions.”

“On January 15, 2025, in E.M.D. Sales, Inc. v. Carrera,[1] Justice Kavanaugh issued the Supreme Court’s unanimous opinion rejecting arguments in favor of a heightened “clear and convincing evidence” standard for proving exceptions to overtime requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) The question presented to the Court was whether this higher standard should apply to overtime exemption classification disputes instead of the default “preponderance of the evidence” standard. The Court concluded that even though the FLSA aims to protect workers and ensure fair wages, such public policy considerations had no bearing on the applicable standard of proof.”