Hey Compliance Warriors! With school and summer activity schedules greatly altered as America continues to reopen in the wake of the coronavirus, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division issued two Field Assistance Bulletins (FABs) today to clarify issues relevant to the pandemic’s effects on employees and the workplace. Read on…
Author: Lisa Smith, SPHR
In late June 2002 the Texas Supreme Court reversed a $1.8 million judgment in favor of a concrete block maker who accused a rival of defamation, finding that the dispute was not about defamation, but rather business disparagement and that the award therefore could not stand. In Innovative Block v. Valley Builders Supply, No. 18-1211 […]
Hey Compliance Warriors! The U.S. Department of Labor today announced five new opinion letters that provide compliance assistance related to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and how to properly classify overtime-exempt employees in specific situations. Read on…
Attorney Blog, Human Resources
OSHA Issues New Guidance for Non-essential Businesses as they Plan to Reopen
On June 17, 2020, OSHA issued new guidance (which may be found here: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA4045.pdf) for “non-essential businesses” as they plan for reopening and bringing employees back to work. The guidance is not comprehensive and is intended to supplement resources from other federal, state and local agencies, including, specifically, the White House’s Guidance for Opening up America Again (the […]
Attorney Blog, Human Resources
New Virginia Law Prohibits Non-compete Agreements Against ‘Low-Wage Employees’
In April, Virginia’s Governor Ralph Northam signed a new bill banning covenants not to compete against “low-wage employees.” As of July 1, 2020, Virginia employers may not enter into, enforce, or threaten to enforce a covenant not to compete with any employee who earns less than $1,137 per week ($59,124 per year). With this threshold, the […]
Hey Compliance Warriors! The U.S. Department of Labor today launched an interactive online tool to help workers determine if they qualify for paid sick leave or extended family and medical leave to cover time away from work for reasons related to the coronavirus. Read On… The tool guides workers through a series of questions to […]
Hey Compliance Warriors! The U.S. Department of Labor will host four webinars in June and July to discuss how the Department is helping workers and employers by reducing regulatory burdens and making it easier to understand and comply with the law. The webinars will also provide an opportunity for workers, employers, and state and local […]
Hey Compliance Warriors! The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today posted an updated and expanded technical assistance publication addressing questions arising under the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Laws related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read on…
Hey Compliance Warriors! U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today announced another extension of the flexibilities in rules related to Form I-9 compliance that was granted earlier this year. Read on…
Attorney Blog, Human Resources
Supreme Court Rules that Title VII Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
Yesterday, in a landmark the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that “an employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender violates Title VII.” Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) makes it “unlawful” for an employer “to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise […]