One issue to watch: he U.S. Supreme Court is poised to consider whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act should be extended to protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Some of the biggest labor and employment headlines last year highlighted LGBT rights in the workplace, forced-arbitration provisions, sexual harassment scandals and stalled federal nominees. These issues and more are in play in 2019.

Progressive states, including California and New York, last year showed no sign of slowing down to take up measures boosting workplace protections, adding to the patchwork of state and local laws surrounding gender equality, harassment and paid sick leave.

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