The EEOC has just released its Enforcement Guidance: Pregnancy Discrimination and Related Issues, adopting new and substantive changes to the way federal law impacts workplace treatment of pregnancy. The guidance is divided into four sections: The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) – The PDA requires accommodations for pregnant women, regardless of the severity of their pregnancy-related Read more
Minnesota’s minimum wage law covers full-time and part-time employees, there are a few exceptions. Under the law, employers must pay employees the minimum wage for all hours worked. Did you know… hours worked include training time, waiting time, rest periods of less than 20 minutes and any other time an employee must be at work. Read more
Restaurant employers have a unique opportunity to develop safe work habits in young workers and enhance the culture of safety in the food service industry. Workers in the fast-paced food service industry frequently encounter hazards such as sharp knives, hot liquids and heavy trays. Inexperience and eagerness can make young workers particularly vulnerable to injury. Read more
Massachusetts 2014 legislative session runs well into 2015, but there is an important bill Governor Patrick has already signed which requires mention. The most notable bill signed thus far is an increase in the state’s minimum wage. Senate Bill 2195, An Act Restoring the Minimum Wage and Providing Unemployment Insurance, raises the minimum wage to Read more
The US Department of Labor (DOL) is expected to soon issue formal guidance to make it clear that employment discrimination based on transgender (gender identity) status is prohibited. Two years ago, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission decided in Mary v. Holder that “sex discrimination”, which is prohibited under federal law, includes discrimination against transgender individuals. Read more
Recently Connecticut’s governor signed into law the “Act Creating Parity between Paid Sick Leave Benefits and Other Employer-Provided Benefits”, effective January 1, 2015. Public Act 14-128 amends the existing Connecticut Paid Sick Leave law in a couple of significant ways. First, under existing law, each employer must provide paid sick leave annually to each of Read more
Employers should periodically conduct internal audits of their Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) policies and practices to ensure they are legally compliant. It is especially important now because the US Department of Labor FMLA enforcement branch has renewed its emphasis on conducting on-site FMLA compliance investigations. Three essential components of an internal audit are: Read more
Portions of Canada’s Anti-Spam Law (CASL) are now in effect, then on January 15, 2015 additional sections related to the unsolicited installation of computer programs or software come into force. Organizations operating in Canada that use electronic channels to promote or market products and services must comply with CASL; this includes charities and non-profits. To Read more
The Maryland Minimum Wage Act of 2014 entitles employees to greater legal protection and imposes new obligations on employers. Most notably, under the act the state’s minimum wage rate will increase over the next several years and eventually reach $10.10 per hour on July 1, 2018. Currently, the state minimum wage rate is $7.25 per Read more
Governor Lincoln Chafee recently signed legislation raising the state’s minimum wage. The minimum wage rate will increase by one dollar from the current $8.00 per hour to $9.00 per hour effective January 1, 2015. So far there are four additional states with minimum wage increases effective January 1, 2015. They are Hawaii, Massachusetts, Vermont and Read more
