As of March 16, 2020, Colorado workplaces will be regulated by the new Colorado Overtime & Minimum Pay Standards Order (COMPS Order) #36. The COMPS Order, like the state’s prior annually issued wage orders, is a principal source of Colorado’s wage rights and responsibilities. Unlike prior years, the COMPS Order is more than a reissue Read more
On July 1, 2019, two new ordinances will go into effect in Seattle, Washington, giving domestic workers labor rights and protections traditionally reserved for mainstream employees. The Domestic Workers Ordinance (a.k.a. “Domestic Workers Bill of Rights”) gives minimum wage, meal and rest break rights to domestic workers. The other ordinance extends the protections of the Read more
On October 1, 2018, Manitoba’s minimum wage rate rose by 20 cents to $11.35 per hour. The new rate is based on Manitoba’s 2017 inflation rate of 1.6 percent, and rounding up to the nearest five cents. All employees must receive minimum wage unless they are not covered by provincial employment standards or are excluded Read more
Ontario’s government has passed the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017, making several changes to the Employment Standards Act, 2000. Employers covered by this Act should be working on addressing the new amendments, many of which are effective now. Under the new legislation, the minimum wage rate was increased to $14 per hour on January Read more
Five Canadian provinces will increase their minimum wage rates this spring. The minimum wage rate increases are based on annual changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI is an indicator of changes in consumer prices experienced by Canadians. It is obtained by comparing the cost of a fixed basket of goods and services Read more
In recent years there has been a growing interest in law making that would require employers to give employees advance notice of their work schedules, pay them for reporting to work as scheduled and for time they are “on call”, and give them the right to request schedule changes without fear of retaliation. Already California, Read more
National Safety Month is observed each year in June. The focus of the campaign is to reduce leading causes of injury and death at work, on the road and in our homes and communities. In the workplace, employers and employees must adhere to state and federal health and safety training standards and follow best practices Read more
Two recent California court decisions have interpreted features of California law that affect how employees spend their break time and what their employers can expect. Specifically, the decisions concern employee reprieve from work and availability during meal and rest periods. Applicable Law In California, employee meal and rest periods are prescribed by statute and Industrial Read more
After a bill’s enactment this past November, Ontario employers must start reviewing their employment policies to stay compliant. New employer obligations come as a result of the Stronger Workplaces for a Stronger Economy Act (Bill 18). The Act was passed in an effort to provide support to Ontario workers. The first amendment will remove the Read more
Removing barriers to employment for people with criminal records has been a topic highly debated and actively legislated. Twelve states and over 60 cities and counties currently embrace “Banning the Box”, which removes one question from hiring-related forms – the query about past criminal history. Back in 1998 Hawaii got the movement started by being Read more
