As mandated in President Biden’s Executive Order on Protecting Worker Health and Safety, OSHA announced its revised guidance entitled, Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace (https://www.osha.gov/coronavirus/safework). This is OSHA’s first comprehensive workplace guidance […]
Corporate Compliance , COVID-19 , DOL , Employment Law , FLSA , Leave Law
6th January 2021
COVID-19 RELIEF BILL VS. FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT
On December 27, 2020, President Trump signed a $900 billion Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (“Relief Bill”) providing for, in part, a $300 per week supplemental unemployment benefit, direct payment checks of up to $600 per adult and child, $284 billion […]
DOL , EEOC , Employment Law , Title VII
8th October 2020
DOL Guidance on Trump’s Diversity Training Order – Executive Order 13950
On October 7, 2020, the Department of Labor issued guidance to clarify Donald Trump’s Executive Order 13950, which bars federal contractors from offering sensitivity training seminars that “promote race or sex stereotyping or scapegoating.” The DOL guidance can be found […]
Corporate Compliance , COVID-19 , DOL , Employment Law , Leave Law , temporary work leave , Wage and Hour Law
9th June 2020
Small Business Exemption – Families First Coronavirus Response Act
Can small business owners claim an exemption under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”)? Yes, if the business meets certain criteria. Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”), all private employers that employ fewer than 500 employees at […]
COVID-19 , DOL , Employment Law , FLSA
7th April 2020
Furlough vs. Layoff vs. Reduction in Force vs. Termination
During this time of economic uncertainty due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, companies throughout the nation are taking action to reduce costs, including payroll. As a result, employees may be furloughed, laid off, riffed, or, ultimately, terminated. These terms […]
DOL , Employment Law , Firm Announcements , FLSA , National Labor Relations Act , Wage and Hour Law
21st February 2020
JOINT EMPLOYERS & THE NEW DOL RULE
In certain circumstances, an employee may have two (or more) employers which are considered “joint employers” under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (“FLSA”). Under the FLSA, a “joint employer” is any additional individual or entity who is jointly […]
DOL , Employment Law , FLSA , Leave Law , Uncategorized , Wage and Hour Law , Work Breaks
18th December 2019
NEW REGULAR RATE OF PAY RULE
For the first time in more than 50 years, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) has updated its interpretation of the definition of “regular rate of pay” in the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), which is used to calculate overtime […]
DOL , Drug Free Work Place , Drug Testing , Employment Law
11th December 2019
Georgia’s Drug-Free Workplace Program
The Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation provides employers who are certified as a drug-free workplace under the Georgia Drug-Free Workplace Program with a 7.5% discount off workers’ compensation premiums. To participate in the program and receive the discount, employers […]
Corporate Compliance , DOL , Employment Law
25th September 2019
Final Overtime Rule Announced
Yesterday, (September 24, 2019), the Department of Labor (“DOL”) announced a new final rule, the effect of which will make “1.3 million American workers newly eligible for overtime pay.” What Changes Will Take Place? The final rule, which will take […]
DOL , FLSA , Wage and Hour Law
17th May 2019
DOL Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Joint Employer Status
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), two or more employers may be jointly responsible for an employee’s wages, which is referred to as “joint employment.” In April, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”), Wage and Hour Division issued a […]