Blog: Department of Labor

 

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Warning: Independent Contractors May Be Employees

Posted on July 22, 2015 by
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The Administrator of the US Department of Labor has issued guidance on determining whether an individual is an independent contractor or an employee of a company.  This Interpretive Guidance goes a long way to declaring that the Department of Labor will be aggressively reviewing determinations of independent contractor status by a company and will likely […]

If You Are A Federal Contractor/Sub-Contractor Your Workers Got a Boost In Pay: $10.10 New Minimum Wage for Workers on Federal Contracts

Posted on October 7, 2014 by
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On February 12, 2014, President Obama signed Executive Order 13658, “Establishing a Minimum Wage for Contractors,” to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 for all workers on Federal construction and service contracts. The President took this executive action because boosting wages lowers turnover and increases morale, and will lead to higher productivity overall. Raising wages […]

DOL Plans to Take Final Action on Revised “Persuader Rules:” Employer Community Remains Unconvinced

Posted on May 20, 2014 by
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According to the federal Department of Labor (DOL), it plans to publish a final rule in April 2013 revising its so-called “persuader rules” under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act. The “persuader rules” have long obligated employers to disclose, in writing, certain activities aimed at thwarting union organization tactics but only under exceptional circumstances where labor-relations […]

There’s No Such Thing as a Free Lunch – Just Ask the Department of Labor

Posted on May 20, 2014 by
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A few days ago I was reading the Wall Street Journal and came across an interesting article about whether daily, fringe-benefit meals are taxable. Apparently (and probably not too surprising to most), the IRS is considering whether these free lunches are fringe benefits on which employees should pay additional tax. The article is interesting, but it […]

Fox Searchlight Decision Brings Risks of Using Unpaid Interns Out of the Dark

Posted on May 20, 2014 by
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Recently, a federal court in New York concluded that a group of workers (production workers who worked on production of the film Black Swan) classified as “unpaid interns” by a motion picture distribution company should have been classified as employees for purposes of federal wage and overtime laws. The case is Glatt v. Fox Searchlight […]

A New Game – Who is Exempt and Who Receives Overtime Pay?

Posted on May 15, 2014 by
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As you may have seen in several news reports, President Obama is today directing the Department of Labor to re-write the regulations that identify who is exempt from overtime pay requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The Fair Labor Standards Act does not apply to executive, administrative and professional employees. There are certain minimum […]