Workers in jobs provided by labor suppliers face greater risks of workplace illness, injury, and death. In California, temporary workers are 50 percent more likely to suffer an injury on the job than permanent workers in similar jobs. To help protect temp workers from hazards in the workplace, Cal/OSHA has a new fact sheet explaining Read more
There are 12 states that currently tie their minimum wage rates to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Each year, these states adjust their minimum wage rates for an increase in the CPI over the last year. Oregon and Washington are the latest states to officially announce their minimum wage rates for 2016. Because there was Read more
Revised Washington Job Safety & Health Law Posting Washington has updated the required Job Safety and Health Law (JS&H) workplace posting. The primary change to the posting concerns employers’ reporting requirements when a work-related incident results in death, hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye. Specifically, deaths and hospitalizations must be reported to the Washington Read more
The Ohio Department of Commerce has announced that Ohio’s minimum wage rate will stay the same next year. The current minimum wage rate is $8.10 per hour for nontipped employees and $4.05 per hour for tipped employees. The state minimum wage applies to employees of businesses with annual gross receipts of more than $297,000 per Read more
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in removing barriers to employment for qualified individuals with a criminal record as seen by the proliferation of “Ban the Box” laws. Generally, these laws prohibit an employer from requiring a prospective employee to disclose a criminal conviction on a job application or before a conditional Read more
The US Department of Labor (DOL) has announced an increase in the minimum wage rate for workers on federal construction and service contracts effective January 1, 2016. The minimum wage rate will increase from the current rate of $10.10 per hour to $10.15 per hour. The minimum cash wage for tipped workers will increase from Read more
On July 29, 2015, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a proposed rule to clarify that employers have a continuing obligation to make and maintain accurate records of work-related recordable injuries and illnesses. This position makes it an ongoing violation each day an employer fails to make or keep required records for up Read more
Starting next year, many employers in the District of Columbia will be required to provide employees with a ride to work. The District’s Sustainable DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2014 (“Act”)(D.C. Law 20-142), Section 302, requires employers with 20 or more employees to offer one of several transportation fringe benefits to employees beginning January 1, Read more
Employees of federal contractors soon will have some much needed relief when it comes to taking care of their own wellness and providing care for family members with health conditions. Earlier this week Present Obama issued an Executive Order that will entitle employees of federal contractors to earn up to seven paid sick leave days Read more
Personal social media accounts can be a pitfall for unwary employees and a temptation for overzealous employers. Often employees reveal information in the social media that employers are prohibited from considering when making hiring or employment-related decisions. For example, employees’ social media posts may disclose protected personal characteristics such as age, health or family status. Read more
