Tag: Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

DOL Guidance Spotlights FLSA, FMLA, and Visa Program Retaliation

On March 10, 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) issued guidance on forms of prohibited retaliation under various laws the agency enforces, including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), immigration visa programs, and other laws and executive orders. The new guidance suggests […]

Student Athletes Sue to Be Classified as ‘Employees’

Since last year’s monumental Supreme Court decision in Alston curtailing the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) ability to limit student athlete compensation, the landscape continues to shift in unprecedented ways. In September 2021, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) announced its position that certain student athletes at private institutions should be considered employees for purposes […]

Ask the Expert: Can Employees Be Mandated to Work Overtime?

In our latest installment of Ask the Expert, brought to you by the team of industry experts at HR Hero®, we look at a recent question from a subscriber regarding an employer’s ability to require workers to work overtime. Let’s hear what our team of HR experts have to say! Q: Can employees be mandated to […]

Restaurant’s Mandatory Service Charge Wasn’t a Tip

In the current battle to hire and retain good workers, employers have developed creative ways to balance employees’ increased compensation expectations against the costs of running a business. In addition, restaurants using the tip credit have the extra administrative difficulties of making sure their tipped employees are being paid enough in tips to meet the […]

9 Tips for Conducting Wage and Hour Checkups

We visit the doctor and the optometrist once a year and our dentists at least twice a year. Why? We attend the appointments not because they’re necessarily fun but because they’re vital for maintaining good health and wellness. They provide assurance that if things aren’t so good, we have the chance to correct course. All […]

U.S. Supreme Court Says Airline Supervisor Is Exempt from the Federal Arbitration Act

Voluntary arbitration agreements involving federal law are enforced under the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA). Section 1 of the FAA exempts certain classes of workers, however, from the enforcement of arbitration. The U.S. Supreme Court recently resolved a federal circuit court split over whether employees who load cargo for the transportation of goods are engaged in […]

House’s Passage of FAIR Act Signals End of Mandatory Arbitration of Workplace Disputes

For decades, American employers have relied on judicial precedent and the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) to enforce predispute mandatory arbitration agreements, which are signed before any known conflict arises between the employer and the employee (typically at the beginning of the employment relationship) requiring them to arbitrate any future employment disputes. They often contain provisions […]

Risk of Employees’ Losing Exempt Status Rises During Times of Short-Staffing

In times of short staffing, it’s important to remember exempt employees may lose their exempt status if they spend too much time performing nonexempt work. A recent ruling by the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota serves as a stark reminder that exempt employees may perform nonexempt work but only if their primary […]

You’re Getting a Raise! DOL Again Looks to Hike FLSA Salary Threshold

In September 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) expanded the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) overtime coverage to more than one million workers. In response, employers everywhere readied themselves for a potentially seismic shift. Calls to legal counsel, workforce audits, and wage adjustments ensued to make sure workers were properly classified. Soon, it may […]

Are Student Athletes Also Employees?

The U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals (which covers Pennsylvania employers) recently announced it will consider the most important question in collegiate sports history: whether students who participate in college athletics are employees. The case comes on the heels of the U.S. Supreme Court’s August 25, 2021, decision in NCAA v. Alston, which struck down […]