Tag: FLSA

Nine of 10 Employment Class Actions in 2010 Involved Wage and Hour Claims, Says Law Firm

Of all class and collective actions filed in 2010 claiming employment law violations, 91 percent involved federal and/or state wage and hour claims, according to the law firm Littler Mendelson LLC. Federal and state wage and hour class and collective actions filed during the 2010 calendar year totaled about 3,785 nationwide, according to data collected […]

Worst Mistake #3—Missing Basic Wage/Hour Requirements

In yesterday’s Advisor, we covered the first two “Worst Mistakes Managers Make.” Today, the third worst mistake, plus an introduction to a very effective 10-minutes-at-a-time training system for managers and supervisors. Worst Mistake #3—Basic Wage/Hour Stumbles Employees will tolerate a lot, but start messing with their paychecks, and there will be trouble, guaranteed. Many wage/hour […]

3 Worst Mistakes Managers and Supervisors Make

They say the perfect business has no managers, no supervisors, and no employees. Unfortunately, your business isn’t perfect, and you have to deal with managers and supervisors who will make today’s “worst mistakes” if you don’t train them. Here are the worst mistakes managers make: Worst #1—Failure to Be Honest in Performance Management Supervisors and […]

Sign of the Times? Minimum Wage Boost Defeated in Maine

What a difference a couple of years makes. Not so long ago, a flurry of states passed legislation or ballot initiatives to increase their minimum wage rates. As recently as 2009, there were minimum wage increases in 24 states. Since then, it appears that changes in the political climate and in the economy have completely […]

Equalizing Pay for Long Shifts and Short Shifts

Let’s say you have some employees who work long, 12-hour shifts and others who work traditional eight-hour shifts. The 12-hour employees work four shifts one week (48 hours), then three shifts the second week (36 hours) and another three shifts the third week (36 hours). This 4-3-3 schedule would be repeated every three weeks, resulting […]

DOL Cleanup Regs Enact Technical Changes While Rejecting More Substantive Concerns

On April 5, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a set of final “cleanup” regulations, bringing the existing Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regulations up to date with the technical changes and statutory enactments that have passed over the past few years. For example, the regulations, which took effect today, update figures and computations […]

Summer Jobs for Kids—Many Restrictions on Duties and Hours

In yesterday’s Advisor, we covered permitted work for youths under 16. Today, prohibited work, and some great news—your job descriptions are updated and ready to go. Minors Aged 14 and 15: Prohibited Work Minors 14 and 15 years old may not work in the following occupations. Again, this is not an exhaustive list. Most jobs […]

Summer Hiring? Watch for Tricky Child Labor Laws

A recent DOL decision assessed penalties of over $277 thousand against movie theaters for employing youths in dangerous jobs and for working them illegally long hours. Have summer hiring plans? Better review youth hiring rules. Many companies enjoy adding young workers to their staffs during the summer months, and it’s a win-win as long as […]

Supreme Court Rules Oral FLSA Complaints Are OK

Today, in a 6-2 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) antiretaliation provision protects not just written complaints but also oral ones. The Court noted in its opinion that it heard the case because of a conflict in the circuit courts over whether oral complaints were protected. In Kasten […]