Employers should periodically conduct internal audits of their Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) policies and practices to ensure they are legally compliant. It is especially important now because the US Department of Labor FMLA enforcement branch has renewed its emphasis on conducting on-site FMLA compliance investigations. Three essential components of an internal audit are: Read more
The Department of Labor (DOL) administers and enforces close to 200 federal laws. These laws cover the majority of workplace activities, businesses, applicants, workers, retirees and contractors. Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) – This law outlines standards for wages and overtime pay. For nonagricultural operations, it restricts youths working hours and types of jobs they 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
The US Department of Labor (DOL) governs and enforces upwards of 180 federal laws covering workplace activities. The DOL’s principal statutes are applicable to businesses, job seekers, workers, retirees, contractors and grantees. You are most likely familiar with some of the major topic areas – wage and hour, workplace safety and health, workers’ compensation, employee Read more
Recently the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) and the US Department of Labor (DOL) released guidance on how lawfully married same-sex spouses will be treated under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the result of a Supreme Court ruling in the U.S. v. Windsor case. The Read more
Recently the US DOL announced a Final Rule that will improve job opportunities for protected veterans. The Final Rule makes changes to the regulations implementing the Vietnam Veterans’ Readjustment Act (VEVRAA). The Act prohibits federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating against protected veterans in employment and requires contractors and subcontractors to take affirmative action to Read more
March 2013 marks a milestone in American workforce history. One hundred years ago on March 4, then President William Howard Taft signed legislation creating the U.S. Department of Labor. The US DOL’s mission is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; Read more
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has announced the four (4) winners of its latest app challenge, the “Worker Safety and Health App Challenge”. These new tools demonstrate the importance of recognizing and preventing workplace safety and health hazards. They also help young people understand their rights in the workplace. The winners of the challenge Read more
Secretary Solis of the United States Department of Labor (DOL) has kicked off commemorative events across the country to honor fallen workers on Workers Memorial Day, April 28, 2012. The events showcase the tremendous urgency and vital importance of ensuring safe working conditions for all workers. The subject is particularly timely because it is also Read more
The U.S. Department of Labor published in February a final rule to improve the H-2B temporary non-agricultural worker program. The H-2B program allows U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary non-agricultural jobs. The rule includes changes to several aspects of the H-2B program to ensure that U.S. workers receive Read more
