Labor Law Updates

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) – the federal agency responsible for enforcing anti-discrimination laws in the workplace – recently released a draft of its Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2022-2026. It’s currently under review and subject to approval before being finalized. Let’s take a closer look at what the plan entails — and what you can do to strengthen your anti-discriminatory hiring and employee management practices for the years ahead.

Labor law posting compliance is an ever-changing responsibility for U.S. employers. And there’s no better time to review the requirements – and ensure your postings are current and complete -- than the first of the year. Remember, too that posting compliance is your first line of defense with a government audit or employee lawsuit, so it’s important to get it right year-round. Follow these 10 basic steps to get your business in line now:

Would it surprise you to learn that Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) lawsuits are at an all-time high? Much of this trend is due to unique and ongoing changes in the workplace, as well as new initiatives by the Department of Labor (DOL). As employers continue to adapt to hiring and staffing challenges, they need to be certain they’re paying remote workers for all hours worked, not misclassifying independent contractors who should be treated as employees, and upholding the latest minimum wage and overtime pay requirements for non-exempt employees.

The federal minimum wage has stayed at $7.25/hour since 2009 – the longest period in history without an increase. Will this change in the coming year? Perhaps … but only if Congress acts on legislative initiatives targeting this “stagnant” rate.

Every U.S. employer is responsible for displaying certain mandatory labor law postings. Meet that responsibility and you’re in the clear, right? Not so fast. What if you outsource HR functions or payroll to another company, or lease workers from a temp or staffing agency? Alternatively, what if your...