DOL
COVID-19 Related Litigation Surges: What Employers Can Do To Minimize Exposure
The much-anticipated surge of COVID-19 pandemic-related litigation has begun. As the pandemic continues to lay siege to the United States economy, claimants’ lawyers and government agencies have begun setting their sights on employers. In early May, we predicted an uptick in a variety of claims, including those relating to workplace safety, discrimination in furlough and…
Read MoreNo COVID Extension: VETS-4212 Filing Deadline is September 30, 2020
Although the 2020 EEO-1 deadline was extended due to the pandemic, contractors and subcontractors who have a current contract covered by the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) or had a contract as of January 1, 2020, must file a VETS-4212 report by September 30, 2020. The filing database is now open. Contractors should file as early as…
Read MoreLabor Department Issues More Coronavirus-Related Workplace Guidance
As the COVID-19 crisis continues, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued more guidance for workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities under federal leave and wage and hour laws. On July 20, the DOL added new questions and answers to pandemic-related issues under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family and…
Read MorePay Parity: What Is It and How Does an Employer Get There?
Fair compensation requires both awareness and action………… Most HR leaders have heard disheartening statistics about the gender pay gap. PayScale, for example, reported in its Gender Pay Gap Report for 2020 that women make only $0.81 for every dollar men make. And the World Economic Forum has estimated that it will take more than 100…
Read MoreAuto-Deducted Meal Breaks — Can They Be Done?
The practice has landed many in a costly trap. Companies with practices conducive to auto-deductions, however, may be able to use them without fear. At first glance, auto-deducting employees’ unpaid meal breaks from their pay may appear to be a good idea. Administratively, it’s simpler than requiring employees to clock out and clock back in, and…
Read MoreThe Nitty-Gritty of the FLSA’s Overtime Requirements
Imagine a pet store fired one of its workers. The worker, whom we’ll call Rich, is upset — no more paycheck and no more playtime with the animals. He decides to sit down with an attorney, who probes him about how the pet store paid him. Rich made $11 an hour and generally worked 40…
Read MoreDOL Outlines Small-Business Exemption From Coronavirus Paid Leave Law
Employers with fewer than 50 employees may claim an exemption from the emergency paid leave provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), and the exemption applies specifically to leave taken for reasons of child care and school closures related to COVID-19, according to a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) guidance updated March 28.…
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