Employers can soon expect more descriptive guidance from the US Department of Labor (DOL). The agency has decided to bring back the “Opinion Letter,” a form of fact-specific guidance which it stopped issuing in 2010. An Opinion Letter is an official, written opinion of how a particular law, usually the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Read more
During the 2017 legislative session, Texas passed a new handgun law that became effective today, September 1st. Under the new law, volunteer emergency services personnel with a license to carry a handgun will be allowed to carry a handgun while on duty. A volunteer emergency services personnel includes a volunteer firefighter, an emergency medical services Read more
On August 29, 2017, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memorandum calling for a review and immediate stay on the effectiveness of new EEO-1 data submission requirements. These requirements, finalized in September of 2016, called for revisions to the EEO-1 compliance survey which collects information on race, ethnicity, and gender distribution within Read more
Benefits of Providing Lactation Accommodation in the Workplace It is well-established that breastfeeding promotes the health and well-being of working mothers and their babies. Breastfed babies and their mothers have reduced risks for many illnesses and diseases. Healthier babies and moms mean a lower health care burden on the national economy. In fact, one study Read more
Starting November 19, 2017, employers, employment agencies, and labor organizations in New York City will be prohibited from discriminating against any person on the basis of his or her uniformed service. New York City Mayor de Blasio has recently signed Bill Int. No. 1259 to amend the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL) adding Read more
Although some consider it a “victimless crime,” the consequences of workers’ compensation fraud can spread out to an entire community. Insurers pass the high costs of fraud off to employers in the form of higher premiums, which means employers have fewer funds for employee benefits and raises, or for expanding the workforce. When one employee Read more
Earlier this year, we reported on Seattle, Washington’s adoption of a new Secure Scheduling law which requires employers to provide employees of large retailers and food service establishments who work within Seattle city limits with an estimate of hours the employee can expect to work per week for the upcoming year, to post work schedules Read more
On August 7, 2017, Governor Chris Christie signed Senate Bill 726 amending the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. The new law extends full protection against discrimination to individuals having liability for service in the Armed Forces of United States and veterans. Prior to the amendment, the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination made it unlawful to Read more
During the 2017 legislative session, lawmakers passed House Bill 419’s amendments to Tennessee’s Wage Regulations Act, which provides protections for employees in the payment of wages. Prior to the passage of HB 419, all wages and other compensation of employees in private employment were due and payable at least semi-monthly (twice per month). The new Read more
California employers have the nation’s highest workers’ compensation burden with an average cost of 3.24 percent of payroll for workers’ compensation insurance, 76 percent above the national average. One factor in those costs is what officials say is an enormous amount of fraud. In California, it is estimated that workers’ compensation fraud costs between $1 Read more
