Summer has officially started, and for HR teams, the season has already marked one of the busiest compliance moments of the year. More than 75 workplace compliance changes took effect on or around July 1, including more than 20 minimum…
Employment Law
Payroll teams that pay nonexempt workers nondiscretionary bonuses should confirm those amounts are included in the overtime regular rate. A recent DOL investigation found that a Tennessee contractor failed to do so, resulting in a payout of about $1.73 million…
When employers fail to honor wage and hour settlement agreements, the Department of Labor's next step is to pursue a court order. In this recent incident, a Washington employer operating four restaurants allegedly backed out of a deal to settle…
The debate around AI in hiring has grown louder and, in many ways, more confused. The cautions around AI are driving most of the conversation. What is getting drowned out are some serious considerations HR leaders actually need to hear,…
A California municipality has agreed to pay $93,000 to settle claims that it pulled a conditional job offer based on an applicant's criminal history without conducting the individualized assessment required under the state's Fair Chance Act (FCA). The settlement resolves…
Does a quarterly bonus trigger an overtime recalculation? A recent DOL opinion letter says it depends on how the bonus is structured – and one approach eliminates the need for retroactive regular rate recalculation. The question came from an employer…
A media company’s decision to fire a white anchor after she made a racially insensitive remark on live TV did not amount to race discrimination, the Fifth Circuit held, affirming a ruling in the employer’s favor. The sticking point: The…
Does a 30-minute unpaid meal break still qualify under the FLSA if employees can barely leave the building? A new DOL opinion letter says yes – and the reasoning matters for any employer operating a large or secured facility. The…
The global compensation landscape is evolving at an extraordinary pace. From digital assets entering payroll discussions to sweeping transparency mandates on both sides of the Atlantic, HR and business leaders face a convergence of novel legal challenges that demand immediate…
For employers that rely on H-1B talent, a federal judge's decision to vacate the $100,000 H-1B fee removes a significant hiring barrier, though the legal fight is likely far from over. U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin in Boston struck down…
Illinois' Family Neonatal Intensive Care Leave Act took effect on June 1, providing employees with children in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with unpaid, job-protected leave. For Payroll, that means new administration, coding and tracking requirements for the new…
A new DOL opinion letter addresses off-the-clock work, rounding policies, and the de minimis defense – and the conclusions should prompt a hard look at pre-shift timekeeping practices. The question came from a public hospital with roughly 18,000 non-exempt workers.…
Does dual-role scheduling put your overtime compliance at risk? A new DOL opinion letter says it depends on the specific facts of the arrangement. The question came from an academic medical center, but the answer applies broadly to any employer…
A national trucking company has agreed to pay $5.5 million to resolve claims that it refused to hire qualified female drivers across the U.S., according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The alleged sex discrimination has occurred for at…
A paper products manufacturer with a plant in Inola, OK, will pay $80,000 to settle a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced. Harassment Continued After Internal Complaint, EEOC Says Sofidel…
When a harassment or retaliation complaint surfaces, most HR professionals immediately focus on the facts. What happened? Who knew? Did anybody witness it? Should there be disciplinary action taken? Was the appropriate disciplinary action taken? But sometimes a lawsuit doesn’t…
