In yesterday’s Advisor, Attorney Usama Kahf showcased new recordkeeping requirements for 2015; today, he reveals more changes that may have an effect on your business.
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Kahf, who counsels employers of all sizes in all aspects of labor and employment law for the law firm of Fisher & Phillips LLP, provided these regulatory insights in a recent webinar presented by BLR® and HR Hero®.
While there is currently no federal mandate regarding paid sick leave, many states are beginning to implement laws of their own, with several taking effect in 2015. Even if your state isn’t among them yet, it’s good to be aware of the trend (and the recordkeeping requirements that go with it) in case your region follows suit.
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New Laws for 2015
The most prominent paid sick leave law Kahf references, which goes into effect this July, is California’s. Under the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014, effective July 1, 2015, all California employers (both public AND private) will be required to provide paid sick leave to their employees. And not just to certain employees, says Kahf, but to everyone in the company—full-time, part-time, exempt, nonexempt, and temporary employees, as long as they’ve worked for you 30 days or more. Only very specific, very limited exemptions apply.
How will this law affect recordkeeping? Naturally, it results in more requirements, says Kahf, including the following:
- Keeping records of accrual and usage of paid sick leave (certain record retention rules may also apply, says Kahf);
- Changing pay stubs—the employee now needs to be able to see the record of accrued and paid sick leave for each pay period; and
- Including paid sick leave information on your organization’s Wage Theft Prevention Act Notice—this will need to be reissued to all employees on or before July 1.
Other states that will see (or already have seen) changes on this front in 2015 include Massachusetts (with an Earned Sick Leave Law taking effect July 1) and Connecticut (which requires paid sick leave for service employees as of January 1). Municipal laws may also become a factor for your company—Kahf advises businesses to always seek counsel to verify they are in recordkeeping compliance.
Staying up to date with recordkeeping requirements is just one of the many challenges in the brave new world of HR. Are you prepared for changes that are unparalleled in scope and impact?
- Employees all over the world, many of whom you’ve never met in person
- Technological advances and big data
- Talent management challenges like Millennials managing Baby Boomers you once thought would have retired years ago
- Big data on everything from hiring strategies to retention predictions
- Sweeping regulatory changes in the areas of health care, immigration, and privacy that have necessitated massive changes in the way you do business
- And the new normal—doing more … with less
HR 2015? Time to start planning with BLR’s new HR Playbook. Find out more or order here—HR Playbook: HR’s Game Plan for the Future.
It’s a lot to keep track of—and it’s not going to get easier. To help you get your head around big-picture strategies for 2015 and beyond, HR’s Game Plan for the Future provides a detailed rundown of trends, case studies, and best practices in the following areas:
- Recruiting and Hiring
- Onboarding
- Social Media and Technology
- Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS)
- Flexibility and Work/Life Balance
- Outsourcing
- Diversity
- Talent Management
- Employee Engagement and Retention
- Succession Planning
- Telecommuting
Find out more or order here—HR’s Game Plan for the Future.