A new type of wage and hour legislation is gaining steam around the country. Although you may not be familiar with the term “wage theft,” chances are good that you’ll be hearing more about it soon. What is wage theft? Generally, the term refers to an employer’s failure to pay wages when they are due and in compliance with legal wage rates. In the past year, multiple cities, counties, and states around the country have enacted their own laws to enforce wage and hour provisions. This is … [Read more...] about New Wave of Legislation: Wage Theft Laws
Department of Labor Announces “Plan, Prevent, Protect”
The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced that its staff will seek to add new responsibilities for employers, requiring them to step up proactive compliance measures, especially in the areas of safety, health, and wage and hour laws. This is important because it reflects a new emphasis on preventing violations of laws that affect workers, as opposed to the more common tactic of trying to catch and punish employers who may have been violating labor laws for months or years. Deputy Labor … [Read more...] about Department of Labor Announces “Plan, Prevent, Protect”
IRS Issues HIRE Act Form for Employer Tax Break
With passage of the HIRE Act (Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act) last month, some employers are wondering how to take advantage of the tax breaks provided by the Act. The Act offers both a payroll tax exemption and a tax credit. First, employers who hire certain unemployed workers after February 3, 2010, and before January 1, 2011, may be eligible for a payroll tax exemption of 6.2 percent. The IRS now has issued Form W-11, which employers must complete in conjunction with claiming … [Read more...] about IRS Issues HIRE Act Form for Employer Tax Break
Employee Texting Case Goes to Supreme Court
On Monday April 19, the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a case that has important implications for employers who provide cell phone texting and other electronic communications tools to their employees. This case serves as a reminder to all companies to take precautions with electronic communications and the corporate policies that surround them: 1) Be certain to have a corporate policy in place that clearly addresses use of e-mail, text messaging, voicemails, Internet chat, and other … [Read more...] about Employee Texting Case Goes to Supreme Court
New Requirement for Nursing Mothers’ Break Time
Employers may not be aware of the Nursing Mother Amendment, signed into law on March 23 as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. The Amendment modifies the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and requires covered employers to provide break time to nursing mothers for at least the first year of their babies’ lives. The Amendment is effective immediately. Employers may wish to develop new employee lactation policies or modify any existing ones to reflect the new … [Read more...] about New Requirement for Nursing Mothers’ Break Time