State and federal wage and hour law is difficult for even the best HR people to correctly administer. All of us are faced with ensuring that rest and meal break rules are understood and adhered to. While the rules aren’t terribly complex they can be tricky. They certainly can be sensitive as they involve two things highly valued by employees- breaks and pay. Therefore they deserve periodic attention. Serious and costly consequences can result if something as seemingly simple as the law surrounding rest breaks isn’t followed.
August 17, 2009
August 3, 2009
Remember the Minimum Wage Increase
Remember the Minimum Wage Increase. Don’t forget that the 2007 amendments to the Fair Labor Standards Act require that the federal minimum wage must be increased from $6.55/hour to $7.25/hour on Friday, July 24. Your state law may require an even greater rate.
June 15, 2009
Maintaining Exempt Status During Times of Reduced Workweeks, Furloughs, Forced Vacations and Other Employer Cost Saving Strategies
The current economic downturn has forced many employers to be creative about cutting labor costs. Various approaches including implementing reduced workweeks, furloughs, requiring that vacations be taken, etc., have been employed to avoid layoffs and retain skilled workforces. That’s all painful enough, but beyond the administrative costs, morale issues, and headaches associated with such plans are there other things to worry about? Given that you are a savvy HR professional or manager, you are well aware that there are always other things to worry about when dealing with human resource issues.
Ensuring compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by carefully maintaining exempt employees’ status can be tricky. But then again just everything about the FLSA is tricky. A few things to ponder are found below. (more…)
June 1, 2009
Wage and Hour Issues at the Spearmint Rhino?
In another example that no organization is immune from Fair Labor Standards Act complaints, several “exotic dancers” at the Spearmint Rhino and other Los Angeles area clubs have alleged that they have not been paid minimum wage and have been misclassified as independent contractors. The dancers’ made their allegations under the name of the “California Coalition of Undressed Performers.” That didn’t sit well with the court that found that for the dancers to pursue their case they’d have to provide their real names- no pseudonyms. No word on how that will turn out. [Exotic Dancers v. Spearmint Rhino, C.D. Cal.]
January 26, 2009
That’s Stinky! Improper Job Classification Puts Potty Company in Deep Doo-Doo
Who knew that there would be HR lessons to be found in the world of porta potties? Apparently wage and hour law knows no bounds. According to the New York Daily News, a portable potty company, Call-A-Head, has found itself in the middle of a class action lawsuit. Employees claim that they were required to clean 100 toilets each day, which often took 15 hours to complete although they were paid for 10 hours daily. It’s alleged that the company had used hiring ads offering to pay $1000 weekly for 4 ten hour days of work. It is also claimed that employees were required to clock in but couldn’t clock out. The employees are seeking back overtime which could be over $1 million. The company denies the charges.
What can be learned from this case so that you can avoid flushing your profits along with your reputation in a Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) lawsuit?
-
- Categories
Benefits (34)
Compensation (62)
- Legal Issues (20)
- A Two Billion Dollar Employment Law Fine?
- Age Discrimination Case Makes Things Easier For Employers
- Avoiding Retaliation Nightmares Just Got Tougher
- California Labor Laws Affect Other Western States
- Compensation News: Paycheck Fairness Act
- Does Pregnancy Discrimination Act Protect Those Who Intend to Have a Baby?
- DOL Ramping Up for a Busy 2010
- Employers Cannot Bar Pay For Unapproved Overtime
- Employment Lawsuits: Can Managers be Personally Sued?
- Equal Pay Lawsuits just got easier
- Equal Pay Lawsuits Just Got Easier
- HR Fact Friday: Changes Loom for HR Structure, Pay Practices
- HR Fact Friday: Pay Discrimination Measure Among First To Be Signed By President Obama
- HR Fact Friday: Pro-Rating Minimum Salary for Part-time Exempt Employee Not Allowed
- Linking Compensation and Performance Presentation Available
- Mandatory Arbitration of Discrimination Claims in Union Environments
- More Minimum Wage Changes Around the Corner
- Pay Final Wages Promptly
- Study Looks at Employee/Plaintiff Success In Federal Court
- That’s Stinky! Improper Job Classification Puts Potty Company in Deep Doo-Doo
- Salaries & Pay (28)
- DOL Ramping Up for a Busy 2010
- Executive Comp Draft Released by Representative Frank
- HR Fact Friday: College Degree Pay Holds in 2007 as Earnings Fall
- HR Fact Friday: Changes Loom for HR Structure, Pay Practices
- HR Fact Friday: Employers Look to Performance-Based Awards During 2009
- HR Fact Friday: HR Poll -- Compensation Audit Frequency
- HR Fact Friday: HR Receives Biggest Raise Among Middle Management
- HR Fact Friday: Pay Raises Smallest in Decades
- HR Fact Friday: Salary Secrets Exposed
- HR Fact Friday: U.S. Salary Increase Budgets Hit 25-Year Low
- HRN Compnews - Salary Budgets for 2010
- HRN News: HRN Announces Release of Incentive Pro
- The “Do More With Less” Overtime Peril
- Tips for Retaining Top Performers in 2010
- Employment Law (69)
- General HR Buzz (123)
- HRN News (23)
- Management Practices (76)
- Archives
-
