Labor Law Changes

Keeping you current on the ever changing labor laws

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 January 1, 2015, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) revised their recordkeeping rules. Employers under Federal OSHA’s jurisdiction have to report all work-related fatalities within eight hours. Employers also have to report all work-related inpatient hospitalizations, all amputations, and all losses of an eye within 24 hours. Before these changes, employers were only 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

On July 22, 2015, Governor Douglas A. Ducey issued an executive order (2015-06) providing the state of Arizona the authority to perform credit, criminal and other background checks of prospective gubernatorial appointees and employees of the Office of the Governor. Currently, consumer reporting agencies can provide consumer reports to private employers for employment purposes under 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

This summer, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy signed “An Act Concerning Pay Equity and Fairness” into law to help create an environment where employees can discuss their wages with other individuals without punishment. Under the new law, employers cannot prohibit employees from disclosing or discussing his or her wages or wages of another employee. Employers are Read more

In the last two years, paid sick leave has gained momentum in the state of New Jersey. Nine cities across the state have adopted a paid sick leave ordinance. The ordinances, which are now effective, are very similar in major areas.   Under all nine ordinances, qualified employees will accrue a minimum of one hour Read more