January 2015

The state of Wisconsin has joined forces with the U.S. Department of Labor to reduce misclassification of employees. The goal is to prevent and reduce the misclassification of independent contractors or other nonemployee statuses by having agencies work together. Under the agreement, state and federal agencies can share resources and information, as well as conduct Read more

On July 1, 2015, employees that work in the city of Eugene, Oregon will start earning a new benefit – paid sick leave. A proposed rule released earlier this month by the city of Eugene suggests how the paid sick leave law will operate. As proposed, the following conditions will apply: Who Is Covered by Read more

Tennessee employers must now add a new procedure to comply with the Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Law. Upon a workplace injury, employers must provide the injured employee with an Agreement between Employer/Employee Choice of Physician (Form C-42). The form must include a list of at least three physicians, surgeons, chiropractors, or specialty practice groups in the Read more

Sunnyvale, CA joins several other Northern California communities in adopting a minimum wage rate that is higher than California’s $9.00 per hour minimum wage rate. Effective January 1, 2015, Sunnyvale’s minimum wage rate is $10.30 per hour.  Beginning on January 1, 2016, and each year thereafter, Sunnyvale’s minimum wage will be adjusted for increases in Read more

New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed Bill A 08106 on December 29, 2014, amending the New York Wage Theft Prevention Act. As shared in our July 1, 2014 CPC blog, the new law eliminates employer’s annual wage notice requirement. Employers, however, are still required to provide wage notice to employees at time of hire. Read more

Each year, employers subject to federal OSHA recordkeeping rules, or comparable provisions of OSHA-approved state job safety and health programs, are required to post in the workplace a summary of work-related injuries and illnesses for the previous year. OSHA Form 300A, Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, must be posted by Feb. 1, and remain Read more

On Wednesday, January 7, 2015, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed the Parental Leave Bill. The new law amends the Maternity Leave Act by extending the eight weeks of job-protected leave for the adoption or birth of a child to a male employee, and expanding on other provisions. Like the Maternity Leave Act, employees are required Read more

As previously shared in our CPC blog, Alaska voters approved proposal to increase their state’s minimum wage rate on Election Day. The measure called for a January 1, 2015 increase, but in accordance with the Alaska Constitution, an initiated law becomes effective ninety days after certification. Alaska’s minimum wage will increase from $7.75 per hour Read more

New California labor laws went into effect on January 1, 2015, giving employees greater protections and rights and imposing new responsibilities on employers. Each law carries a workplace posting requirement applicable to all California employers. Paid Sick Leave The Healthy Workplaces/Healthy Families Act of 2014 (CA AB 1522) is California’s new paid sick leave law. Read more

Florida is the latest state to join the U.S. Department of Labor’s Misclassification Initiative developed to reduce and prevent the practice of misclassification of employees. Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New York, Utah and Washington are other states that have joined their agencies to protect the rights Read more