Labor Law Updates

Keeping you current on the ever changing labor laws

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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