Last month, Alaska became the latest state to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Department of Labor. Like the other states’ agreements with the U.S. Department of Labor, Alaska’s agreement is an attempt to fight employee misclassification. Alaska’s agencies will work together with the U.S. Department of Labor to prevent and reduce 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
Employees of federal contractors soon will have some much needed relief when it comes to taking care of their own wellness and providing care for family members with health conditions. Earlier this week Present Obama issued an Executive Order that will entitle employees of federal contractors to earn up to seven paid sick leave days 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
Personal social media accounts can be a pitfall for unwary employees and a temptation for overzealous employers. Often employees reveal information in the social media that employers are prohibited from considering when making hiring or employment-related decisions. For example, employees’ social media posts may disclose protected personal characteristics such as age, health or family status. Read more
