Despite decades of attention in the media and courts, new spotlights on systemic sexual harassment highlight a significant and costly problem in today’s business environment. According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, since 2010, more than 7,000 sexual harassment charges have been filed with the agency each year. What is Sexual Harassment? Sexual harassment…
A federal judge struck down the Department of Labor’s (DOL) overtime rule, which would have raised the Fair Labor Standards Act minimum salary threshold from $23,660 to $47,476. Based on the court’s ruling, the DOL will need to present a more reasonable salary threshold if it wishes to pass any future overtime rules. This means…
Race, Ethnicity & Gender Reporting Requirement to Remain in Effect The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced that the upcoming EEO-1 reporting form will not contain pay data collection information. Upcoming EEO-1 Report In July of 2016, the EEOC changed the EEO-1 reporting form requirements, so that private employers with 100 or more…
Provides Guidance on Completing and Retaining Form I-9 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released an updated M-274, Handbook for Employers, which provides guidance for complying with the requirements of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. Updated Handbook Among other things, the updated handbook provides information and answers on the following topics: Completing Form I-9;…
Employers Can Submit Comments through September 25, 2017 The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has published a request for information (RFI) seeking input on its 2016 final rule which adjusted the salary thresholds for executive, administrative, and professional employees to be exempt from federal minimum wage and overtime pay requirements. What Was in the 2016…
Workplace Flexibility and Changes to Daily Routines May Help Keep Employees Focused The warm weather and eagerly anticipated outdoor activities of summer may take a toll on your workers’ concentration. If you’re noticing a lack of focus among your employees during this time of year, consider the following ideas to help keep them motivated: Encourage…
Employers planning to hire interns this summer should keep in mind that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has stated that private sector internships are most often considered “employment” subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) minimum wage and overtime rules. The Test for Unpaid Interns There are some circumstances under which individuals…
With the summer hiring season approaching, employers should begin thinking about how best to hire and manage seasonal employees. Employers who do not dedicate time to these critical steps risk having to face disgruntled employees, unhappy customers, and even legal violations. To learn some best practices for hiring and managing seasonal employees, please watch the video…
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has published a final rule adjusting for inflation the civil monetary penalties assessed for violations of a number of federal labor laws. The increases generally apply to civil penalties assessed after January 13, 2017, whose associated violations occurred after November 2, 2015. Key Penalty Increases Penalty increases that may…
“I’m taking a sick day!” This familiar refrain usually is uttered with just cause, but not always. What if there were no sick days? No, we’re not suggesting employees be forced to work when they’re under the weather. Rather, many businesses are adopting a different paradigm when it comes to paid time off (PTO). Under…
