Tag: Wage Hour

minimum wage

Maryland Takes Step Toward $15 Minimum Wage

In a widely expected move, the Maryland General Assembly has approved a significant increase in the state’s minimum wage by voting for legislation aimed at increasing the current rate of $10.10 per hour to $15 by 2025.

Paycheck Fairness Act 101

Even with the passing of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, paycheck inequality remains a problematic issue in today’s workplace. There are a lot of reasons behind this—some more objective and obvious, and some more subtle—but the fact remains that pay has not equalized despite that law passing more than 50 years ago.

exempt

Should a Nonexempt Employee Be Salaried?

Most employers know that any employee who qualifies as exempt from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) must be paid on a salaried basis. Being paid on a salaried basis means that at least the minimum agreed salary for the week is paid, even if the number of hours worked may fluctuate. And […]

payroll

What Is the Payroll Audit Independent Determination Program?

You may have seen the recent Department of Labor (DOL) announcement that the Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) Program has been extended by an additional 6 months. If you saw that and hadn’t already heard of this program, it may have you wondering what it is and whether it might be something your organization would […]

Resolution of Wage Violations Not Necessarily Ensured Under DOL’s PAID Pilot Program

A new pilot program announced by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) in early March provides employers with renewed hope that the agency is changing its approach from strict regulatory enforcement to encouraging voluntary compliance and minimizing litigation. Employers, however, should proceed with caution before voluntarily disclosing possible violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act […]

equal pay

Hospitality Industry Rife with Gender Pay Gaps

The 2017 Restaurant Management Salary Survey Report, the third annual report from Gecko Hospitality, the largest hospitality recruiter in the United States, finds the gender pay gap is still widespread, with starting pay and bonuses for men considerably higher than for women.

bonus

Beware of Bonus Pitfalls: Overtime and Nonexempt Employees

Employers’ failure to properly factor bonus payments into overtime is probably the most common wage and hour compliance error I see, including among employers that have experienced HR personnel who are knowledgeable about the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Failure to factor these payments into overtime is also really difficult to defend because the law on this point (unlike for some FLSA issues) is pretty clear.

Pay Equity Laws 101

Providing equal pay for equal work to employees has been an ongoing concern for decades. Employers need to be particularly wary on this point because not only is pay discrimination illegal but also, it’s something that is subject to increased scrutiny right now, both in the media and by regulatory enforcement bodies like the Equal […]