President Obama recently issued an Executive Order that protects federal employees and employees of federal contractors from discrimination in employment on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Specifically, the President’s July 21, 2014 Executive Order adds the terms “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the list of characteristics protected from discrimination under Executive Read more
The US DOL’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have partnered to release best practices for staffing agencies to better protect temporary workers from job hazards. Staffing agencies and host employers have joint responsibility to provide a safe working environment for this group of individuals. Read more
The recently released Policy on Mental Disabilities and Addictions addresses longstanding discrimination, stigmatization and social exclusion this group experiences in Ontario Canada. The Ontario Human Rights Code protects individuals with mental health disabilities and addictions from discrimination and harassment under the ground of “disability” and extends to five areas: When receiving goods, services and utilization Read more
Federal contractors and subcontractors covered under Section 4212 of the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (“VEVRAA”), are required to report annually their affirmative action efforts in employing veterans on forms VETS-100 or VETS 100-A. That may soon change. Last February, Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) filed a proposed rule that Read more
This year, Alberta employers and their employees will see several important changes to the Alberta All-On-One™ Labor Law Poster. Specifically, the poster has been updated to reflect that: the provincial minimum wage rate will increase 25 cents per hour to $10.20 per hour effective September 1, 2014. The minimum wage for liquor servers will increase Read more
San Diego’s City Council has successfully overridden the mayor’s veto of a Earned Sick Leave & Minimum Wage Ordinance (#20390). It is scheduled to take effect January 1, 2015. The Ordinance imposes several requirements for employers: paying a minimum wage higher than the California State minimum wage of $9.00 per hour, mandatory employee earned sick Read more
Payment of wages by payroll debit card is a growing trend. Now Illinois has amended state law to expressly sanction employers’ use of payroll debit cards to pay employees’ wages. Under the prior version of the law, employers were required to pay wages by check or direct deposit payment. Under the new law, paying employees Read more
A petition initiative to increase Nebraska’s minimum wage has cleared the necessary hurdles to be voted on during the general election in November 2014. Ballot initiatives give voters the opportunity to send clear signals to lawmakers regarding issues important to them and raising minimum wages top the list. Nebraska will be among several states to Read more
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is inviting the public to comment on a newly proposed rule that would require federal contractors and subcontractors to submit an annual “Equal Pay Report” on employee compensation to the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). The proposal arises from a memorandum President Obama delivered last April instructing Read more
On Monday August 18th the San Diego City Council will meet to discuss overriding Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s veto of the city ordinance to increase the minimum wage. A special meeting has been called because overrides must be considered within 30 days of a mayoral veto. In order to override the veto the City Council will Read more
