Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Direct homecare and domestic service employees are currently not covered by the overtime and minimum wage requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), but this is going to change in 2015, says Susan Prince, JR, BLR Legal Editor. Happy Thanksgiving, Readers! Here’s Prince’s summary of the changes: Direct Care Workers Effective January 1, 2015, […]
In yesterday’s Advisor we learned important lessons from Bank of America’s $2 million back pay lawsuit. Today, more suits plus an introduction to the “50×50,” the unique guide that helps employers avoid lawsuits state by state by state. The San Francisco Giants baseball team paid $544,715 in back wages and liquidated damages to 74 employees […]
How Big Is the Number? Most HR managers underestimate the full costs of employee health (or lack thereof), says Ahlrichs. He refers to a study involving auto manufacturers and 171,250 employees. The study recorded basic medical costs for the measured period—the metric most wellness plans look at—at $509 million. But add pharmacy and the number […]
Bank of America Corp. (BOA) will pay 1,147 African-American job applicants $2,181,593 in back wages and interest for race-based hiring discrimination, says the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), declaring “a major victory.” Here are some details about the BOA case and other backpay/discrimination lawsuits that sound a warning […]
First, says Ahlrichs, a consultant and business developer with Gregory & Appel in Indianapolis, Indiana, here’s just one example of why wellness is failing: Getting more serious, Ahlrichs describes a wellness program that’s really working well. Case Study—A New Approach to Wellness Here was Ahlrichs’ client’s situation: County government 3,500 employees Mix of white and […]
Spectators could be excused for confusing a recent U.S. Supreme Court oral argument session with an episode of TLC’s What Not to Wear. On Nov. 4, the Court heard arguments in Sandifer v. U.S. Steel Corp.(No. 12-417) which focused on how to define “clothes” versus protective equipment and whether time spent donning those items is compensable. The […]
Employers who ignore or miscalculate the “regular rate” make an easy, but costly, mistake. Here’s what the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) requirement is and how to make the calculation. What’s the Deal with the ‘Regular Rate’? First of all, overtime, at the rate of at least time and one half, must be paid on […]
Here are some of the other important changes included in the final affirmative action rule: The incorporation of specific EO Clause language in subcontracts. In order to incorporate the equal opportunity (EO) clause by reference in subcontracts, contractors must include specific language spelled out in the new regulations. This language notifies subcontractors of their responsibilities […]
Last August, the OFCCP announced a final rule that makes significant changes to the regulations implementing the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act, or VEVRAA. VEVRAA prohibits employment discrimination against specified categories of veterans by federal government contractors and subcontractors. For a closer look at the new regulations and the implications for federal contractors, we […]
The arrival of cooler weather heralds the end of daylight saving time and a potential Fair Labor Standards Act challenge for employers with employees who work a graveyard shift. This year, daylight saving time ends on Nov. 3, and most states will set the clocks back one hour beginning at 2 a.m. Employees working the […]