News & Opinions
2009 Outlook: Employers Be Alert
We’ve got a new administration headed for the White House and it seems some things may be changing. But you still need to pay your workers fairly under the law, and be prepared in the event of a DOL investigation. Perhaps even more prepared than before.
Small Companies, Big (Potential) Liabilities
Some small business owners may think they’re safe from FLSA lawsuits because they’re “too small” for lawyers to bother with. They may need to rethink that, because small businesses are now in those lawyers’ sights.
The Feds May Be Slacking Off, But the States Aren’t
Think you might be off the hook because it appears the federal DOL is concentrating on larger businesses? Think again. That knocking you hear at your door just might be the state investigators, and they’re not messing around.
Wal*Mart Lessons Learned (or Maybe Not)
In a class-action wage and hour lawsuit in Minnesota, a jury will decide in October how much in penalties Wal*Mart is liable for. The total could go as high as $2 billion. Do you think they’ve learned their lesson? Me neither.
GAO Says DOL Falling Down on Job
The GAO says the DOL has done a poor job of following up on wage and hour complaints. Does this mean you can violate the law and get away with it? In a word, no.
Donning and Doffing Still a Confusing Issue
In the face of conflicting Circuit Court rulings related to donning and doffing, the Supreme Court simply let the lower court decisions stand — leaving donning and doffing a gray area of wage and hour law.
Read This If You Employ Temps or Contractors
If you employ temps or contractors, you could find yourself on the hook for wage and hour violations committed by your temp agency. Not good. Take steps to protect yourself, now.
Is Your Business a Victim of the Underground Economy?
Underpaid and exploited employees aren’t the only ones hurt when companies cheat them out of what they’re owed. The law-abiding businesses that try to compete with these rogue companies are put at a disadvantage, too.
Something You Don’t See Every Day
From the “unusual stories” file, comes the tale of the city that’s voluntarily paying back wages they owe to 14 workers, going back two years. The workers didn’t even realize they were entitled to the pay, and none of them had raised a complaint.
Enforcement Sweeps ID 2,078 Misclassified Workers in New York State
Back in September, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer set up a task force to crack down on companies that illegally classify employees as independent contractors. Recently state investigators conducted a series of 15 enforcement sweeps, covering 117 companies, primarily in the construction and restaurant industries. Here’s what they found.
