Assistance to Separated Workers As we confront the many challenges brought about by the Coronavirus (COVID-19), federal and state lawmakers have been working tirelessly to minimize the financial hardships placed on workers who have lost their jobs as a result of the disease outbreak. Expanding the availability of unemployment compensation (UC) is one way to Read more
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released a new version of Form I-9. Starting this Friday, May 1, 2020, employers must start using Form I-9 Revision 10/21/19. The form is used to verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals (both citizen and noncitizen) hired for employment in the United States. Both Read more
In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, a growing number of laws have required employers to temporarily adjust leave policies to better protect the welfare of their employees during this health crisis. One priority has been providing employees with paid time off from work to obtain COVID-19 related health care and recover from the virus, Read more
Earlier this year, Governor Vazquez signed Law No. 9-2020, also known as the Working Women’s Bill of Rights. Unlike most laws, the Working Women’s Bill of Rights was enacted for informational purposes. The law centralizes a non-exhaustive compilation of rights already recognized in other Puerto Rico labor laws. The law does not create any new Read more
Working together to protect employees in light of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency, the U.S. Congress and President Donald Trump took swift legislative action this month to enable employees to care for afflicted family members, themselves and their children without fear of losing their jobs or financial stability. On March 18, 2020, the Families Read more
Pittsburgh In 2015, the City of Pittsburgh passed the Paid Sick Days Act requiring employers to provide sick time to employees. However, the authority to pass the ordinance was challenged in court, delaying implementation. It was not until July 2019 that Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld the city’s authority to pass the ordinance. Effective March 15, Read more
As of March 16, 2020, Colorado workplaces will be regulated by the new Colorado Overtime & Minimum Pay Standards Order (COMPS Order) #36. The COMPS Order, like the state’s prior annually issued wage orders, is a principal source of Colorado’s wage rights and responsibilities. Unlike prior years, the COMPS Order is more than a reissue Read more
Last year, Maryland lawmakers passed a Minimum Wage Law that gradually increases the statewide minimum wage rate every year until it reaches $15.00 per hour in 2025. The new Minimum Wage Law comes on the heels of another Maryland multiyear minimum wage rate schedule that ended in 2018, paving the way for a new cycle Read more
During the 2019 legislative session, Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 3 to re-organize the state government for a more efficient administration. The Order created the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, and renamed the Department of Talent and Economic Development to Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. The Order also abolished the Michigan Talent Investment Read more
Last year, the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Nevada OSHA) began implementing a new penalty structure for violations the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Act. Nevada Senate Bill 40, which went into effect on Oct. 1, 2019, was passed into law with the intent of aligning the Nevada OSHA penalty structure with the Federal Read more
