The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (LWD) has released a new mandatory state posting, the New Jersey SAFE Act. The SAFE Act provides New Jersey employees up to 20 days of unpaid leave to address circumstances resulting from domestic violence or a sexually violent offense. Under the SAFE Act, leave may be Read more
All employees in Manitoba Canada must receive the minimum wage unless they are not covered by provincial employment standards or are excluded from requirements under the law. These types of employees include, but are not limited to, domestic workers and those in a federal or provincial government-sponsored training program. The minimum wage does apply in Read more
California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) which covers discrimination and harassment was recently amended through Senate Bill 292 which is effective January 1, 2014. Specifically, the amendment expands that sexually harassing conduct need not be motivated by sexual desire. This reduces the force of a California Court of Appeals decision (Kelley v. The Conco Read more
California’s Governor Jerry Brown, signed a significant piece of legislation increasing the state’s minimum wage rate to $9.00 per hour effective July 1, 2014. But wait…there will be an additional rate increase to $10.00 on January 1, 2016. The minimum wage debate has been fueled by supporters, top California lawmakers, as well as the opposition, Read more
Recently the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) and the US Department of Labor (DOL) released guidance on how lawfully married same-sex spouses will be treated under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the result of a Supreme Court ruling in the U.S. v. Windsor case. The Read more
In an average two year period California’s legislature proposes, analyzes and debates over 6,000 bills. These bills are examined by both state assembly and senate members and become law if signed by the governor. This has been a particularly busy year and many bills have received much media attention. One such bill would raise California’s Read more
Oregon’s minimum wage rate will increase to $9.10 per hour beginning January 1, 2014. That is a 15-cent increase over the 2013 minimum wage rate, currently $8.95 per hour. Oregon is one of ten states that annually adjust their minimum wage rates based on inflation and the Consumer Price Index. Since August 2012, there has Read more
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is supporting the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety’s National Farm Safety and Health Week, September 15-21. “Working Together for Safety in Agriculture” is this year’s theme. According to Dr. David Michaels, OSHA’s Assistant Secretary of Labor, “OSHA has worked diligently with agri-businesses, farm agencies Read more
OSHA has revised the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), changing the way information about chemicals in the workplace is communicated to workers. The new standard is based on the international Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). Compliance with the new HCS is mandatory for all businesses that regularly handle, store, and use Read more
Today the California Department of Industrial Relations, (DIR) sent out an official news release warning California business owners of recent misleading notices sent to companies from “Labor Compliance Office”. According to the DIR, “Labor Compliance Office” demands payment (a processing fee) of $275.00 for labor-related postings. The DIR has made it very clear that the Read more
