Effective August 1, 2014, Louisiana law prohibits employers from accessing employees’ personal online accounts – including social media (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or similar sites), blogs, email accounts, or any other personal online accounts. The state ban also prohibits employers from requesting or requiring access to job applicants’ social media accounts. Under the law (LA H Read more
The Government of Canada has recently overhauled the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP); re-organizing it into two distinct programs. The changes are designed to ensure Canadians are considered first for available jobs. Foreign workers should only be used to fill acute labor shortages on a temporary basis when qualified Canadians are not available. This overhaul Read more
Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has posted guidance for federal contractors to determine which workers are “employees” and which are “independent contractors”, or other non-employee workers. Workers that are “employees” must be included in the contractor’s Affirmative Action Programs (AAP) under Executive Order 11246 (race, color, religion, sex, or national origin), Section 503 Read more
The City Council of Berkeley California recently adopted a City Minimum Wage Ordinance, 7-352-N.S., BMC Chapter 13.99. Under the ordinance, employers must pay employees no less than the minimum wage set forth for each hour worked in the geographic boundaries of the City. The minimum wage rate of $10.00 is effective October 1, 2014, with Read more
Oklahoma underwent a major workers’ compensation law revision in 2013. The State’s amended Workers’ Compensation posting has been revised to reflect changes in claim filing deadlines under the new law. Specifically, a claim for benefits on account of death must be filed within 2 years of the date of death. In contrast, a claim for Read more
Nebraska’s Department of Labor has released updates to the Unemployment Insurance Advisement of Benefit Rights posting. These are mandatory-to-post changes. New Material Added: Employment Services electronic notifications requirements, Established statute section for the benefit eligibility of claimants seeking only part-time work (N.R.S. 48-627), Claimants who have drawn benefits for over six (6) weeks will be Read more
Compliance with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is more critical than ever for employers. The FLSA is the law that establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping and youth employment standards affecting employees in the private sector and in federal, state and local governments. FLSA Enforcement According to recent government reports, FLSA lawsuits have Read more
Effective immediately, Governor Cuomo amends the New York State Human Rights Law providing certain protections for interns. The governor’s move comes on the heels of a recent federal court decision (Wang V. Phoenix Satellite TV US, Inc.) where the court found that an unpaid intern could not bring a sexual harassment claim against her “employer” Read more
President Obama has signed several Executive Orders recently each designed to achieve fair labor practices in federal contracting. The most recent Executive Order is the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order. Key features of the Order include: 1. Disclosure of Labor Law Violations Federal agencies will require prospective contractors to disclose labor law violations Read more
August 13, 2014 the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (FCO) becomes effective. Under the ordinance, covered employers must follow strict rules regarding applicants’ and employees’ arrest and conviction record(s) and information related to such records, as well as, post notice in the workplace for employees and applicants to view. This new ordinance applies to employers Read more
