Labor Law Updates

Keeping you current on the ever changing labor laws

Conducting an organizational audit, reviewing formal and informal systems and procedures, helps an employer determine current and projected needs, provide protection from legal liability, as well as, prioritize issues of concern in terms of significance. Specifically, an HR audit will answer questions such as: What are our current formal and informal employment policies? Where can Read more

Shortly after taking office in January, Seattle’s new Mayor made implementing a citywide minimum wage rate a priority. His proposal has rapidly gained support and the measure is now in the final stages of becoming law. As proposed, the minimum wage rate for employees of small employers will start at $10.00 per hour beginning in Read more

According to Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) over 15 million Americans live with food allergies, including those at risk for life-threatening anaphylaxis. So what happens that some individuals suffer from food allergies and how does it work? Food allergies result from ingestion of food that the immune system mistakenly attacks as a food protein. Read more

Many small businesses rely on independent contractors for their staffing needs, but doing so raises special concerns. Independent contractors, by definition, are self-employed and because they are not employees, independent contractors are not covered by employment, labor, and related tax laws. There are many benefits to hiring independent contractors such as savings in labor costs, Read more

Cautious food handling habits protects workers and consumers from the risks associated with various food sources. Training food industry workers how to handle food safely, recognize and respond to adverse reactions, and preventive measures is the first defense against food-related illness. A poster is worth a thousand words. Reinforce training by posting once of Compliance Read more

According to Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) about 15 million Americans have food allergies, including all those at risk for life-threatening anaphylaxis. Many cities and states have enacted laws designed to improve the process by which restaurants address the needs of customers affected by food allergies. In New York City, food establishments where food Read more

Hawaii is the latest state to enact legislation increasing the state minimum wage rate.  Eventually Hawaii’s minimum wage rate will reach $10.10 per hour.  Right now, Hawaii’s minimum wage rate is $7.25 per hour.  Hawaii’s new minimum wage rates will be phased in as follows: $7.75 an hour on Jan. 1, 2015 $8.50 per hour Read more

Are solid HR policies important for the small employer? The answer is YES! Crafting solid HR policies isn’t a task exclusively for large employers. A well written employee handbook and policy manual benefits employers of all sizes and YES their employees too. The first step to crafting solid HR policies is to define goals for Read more

Yesterday, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley signed legislation that will ultimately increase the state minimum wage rate to $10.10 per hour. The Maryland law phases in the increase, raising the minimum wage from its current rate of $7.25 per hour to: $8 an hour on Jan. 1, 2015, $8.25 an hour on July 1, 2015, $8.75 Read more

California Labor Commissioner Julie Su recently announced a statewide multilingual wage theft campaign designed to educate employers and workers about labor standards such as minimum wage, overtime, and meal and rest break requirements. The campaign features a variety of outreach efforts, especially geared toward reaching low-wage workers.  According to Christine Baker, Director of the CA Read more