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Federal DOL Updates: Clarification on the “Joint Employer” Standard, Overtime Calculation in Multi-Week Bonus Periods, and Per-Project Pay for Exempt Salary Threshold

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The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a final rule concerning the joint employer standard, as well as two Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) opinion letters providing guidance on specific wage and hour inquiries.  Below are key takeaways from each of these updates.

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U.S. DOL Opinion Letters: Delaying FMLA Leave, Clarifying FLSA Exceptions, and Applying HSAs to Garnishments

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September 10, 2019

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The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently released three opinion letters addressing the Fair Labor Standards Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Consumer Credit Protection Act.  These opinion letters are issued by the Wage and Hour Division and interpret how laws can be applied in specific situations posed by the letter’s requester, and serve as helpful guidance for employers.

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DOL Issues Opinion Letter on Using FMLA Leave for Child IEP Management

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August 8, 2019

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The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced a new opinion letter from the Department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) on whether or not leave may be taken under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in order to attend a Committee on Special Education (CSE) meeting to discuss the Individualized Education Program (IEP) of the employee’s child.

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DOL Issues Opinion Letters on Nondiscretionary Bonuses, Overtime Exemption Standards, and Rounding Time Under the FLSA

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July 1, 2019

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The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced new opinion letters from the Department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) on calculating overtime pay for nondiscretionary bonuses and permissible rounding practices under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).  Opinion letters are responses from the WHD to submitted queries, are primarily informative in nature, and are published by the WHD to clarify or interpret existing regulations.

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Which Way is the Wind Blowing on Independent Contractors Lately?

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April 29, 2019

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The question always seems to be – which way is the wind blowing on independent contractors lately? The answer depends on who is asking and in what state they work. Most recently, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued an opinion letter indicating that gig economy workers who are part of the virtual marketplace are likely independent contractors, provided they meet the six-factor economic realities test. The DOL stated that a virtual marketplace company (VMC) “is an online and/or smartphone-based referral service that connects service providers to end-market consumers to provide a wide variety of services, such as transportation, delivery, shopping, moving, cleaning, plumbing, painting, and household services.” The role of VMC’s is to help consumers more readily connect with the services they are looking for.

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U.S. DOL Issues New Opinion Letters on Voluntary Delay or Extension of FMLA Leave, Volunteer Working Hours

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March 14, 2019

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On March 14, 2019, the United States Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) issued two new opinion letters.  The first letter addresses whether or not employers may extend or delay designating paid leave as FMLA time off.  The second letter addresses whether an employee’s time participating in an optional volunteer program qualifies as hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).  These opinion letters are responses from the WHD to submitted queries, are primarily informative in nature, and are published by the WHD to clarify or interpret existing regulations.

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New Jersey: Equal Pay Act Reporting Requirements Revised for Public Works Employers

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March 31, 2019

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A recent revision made by the New Jersey Department of Labor (NJ DOL) clarified Equal Pay Act data reporting requirements.  According to the NJ DOL, employers that provide services to public works for the state of New Jersey do not need to report equal pay data for all employees—just employees who perform the public work or provide qualifying services.

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February Updates

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This Short List addresses the following topics:
  1. REMINDER: Post Form 300A in the Workplace
  2. Upcoming Changes to H1-B Applications
  3. Recent OSHA Updates
  4. Department of Labor Penalty Increases
  5. California: Human Trafficking Required Posting Available; DE 2588 Form Updated
  6. California: Labor Commissioner Publishes Blacklisted Port Trucking Companies
  7. Daly City, CA: Minimum Wage Increases on February 13rd
  8. Fremont, CA: Minimum Wage Increases to $13.50 per Hour and Beyond
  9. Michigan: New Employee Protections for State Contractors and Workers
  10. Missouri: Delegation Clauses in Arbitration Agreements Must Be Enforced
  11. New Mexico: State Fair Pay for Women Act Applies to Public and Private Employers
  12. New York: Paid Family Leave Benefit Increases
  13. Ohio: Franchisors are Not Joint Employers
  14. Pennsylvania: Employers Must Protect Electronic Employee Information
  15. Philadelphia, PA: Minimum Wage Increases for City Workers and Contractors

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Voluntary Participation in Employer-Sponsored “Wellness Activities” is Not Compensable Time

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August 28, 2018

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The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued an opinion letter stating that employers are not required to pay employees for time spent voluntarily attending certain wellness program-related activities, including health-based biometric screenings and benefit fairs.

October Updates

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This Short List addresses the following topics:
  1. U.S. Department of Labor Issues Updated FMLA Forms
  2. EEO-1 Reporting Deadline Still March 31st
  3. NLRB: E-Verify Enrollment is a Mandatory Subject of Bargaining
  4. IRS Updates Paid Family Leave Tax Credit
  5. Sixth Circuit: Educational Institution’s Investigation Procedures Challenged in Title IX Case
  6. Seventh Circuit: Potential Back Pay in Hostile Work Environment Claims
  7. Ninth Circuit Affirms DOL Guidance on “20% Rule” for Tipped Employees
  8. California: IMPORTANT – Update on How Split Shifts Are Paid
  9. San Francisco, CA: Update Fair Chance Ordinance Notice/Poster
  10. New York: Home Care Workers’ “13-Hour Rule” is Invalid

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