As many employers are hiring summer staff, now is a good time to brush up on new developments in child labor, wage and hour, and workplace safety laws. These legal compliance matters may be particularly relevant to employers...more
Agricultural employers are often at the mercy of nature which causes constant fluctuations in labor needs. Given the unique nature of the agricultural industry, their workers have historically been exempt from minimum wage...more
Dear Littler: We’re a nationwide employer excited that many of the pandemic-related restrictions are starting to ease up. In pre-COVID times, summer was always our busiest season. ...more
The holiday season is nearly upon us, and the shopping frenzy is about to commence. This annual phenomenon brings the hurried engagement of seasonal employees, with thousands of these retail elves helping manage the increased...more
The recent U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour (WHD) investigation outcome of leading thoroughbred trainer Chad Brown has rocked the racing industry with the assessment of over $1.6 million in back wages and Civil Money...more
Though confined to the issue of overtime for farm laborers, a recent ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”) serves as a warning to all employers about the pitfalls presented by the disparities between...more
On March 15, 2019, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court held that the “agricultural” exemption to the Massachusetts Overtime Law, M.G.L. c. 151, § 1A, does not apply to workers who perform post-harvesting activities. ...more
If you plan to employ anyone under 18 years old for the summer, you should be thoroughly familiar with the child-labor limitations prescribed under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act....more
The December 1 effective date is rapidly approaching for the Department of Labor’s new white-collar overtime exemption salary levels. Employers struggling with their ability to pay the more than doubled salary minimums are...more
On August 25, 2016, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council published in the Federal Register its highly anticipated Final Rule regarding the so-called "blacklisting" procedures for federal contractors President...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Final Rules and Guidance on Executive Order 13673, “Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces” (aka “Blacklisting” Order) have been released. Despite robust comments from the contractor community, the Final Rule...more
Ah…summertime. It’s finally here. The long days, the slower pace. Vacations, hotdogs and hamburgers on the grill, and the ever-present risk of legal exposure. Huh? That’s right, summertime also ushers in different types of...more
The U.S. Department of Labor, Wage & Hour Division (DOL) issued guidance from its administrator in late January, espousing a broad view of joint employment under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The guidance, issued in...more
The start of the New Year has brought about a flurry of federal administrative agency activity, including guidance from the Department of Labor (DOL) on the joint employer standard to be used for wage and hour matters, as...more
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued guidance warning employers that ''joint employment'' has become more common in light of the growing variety of business models and labor arrangements in today's economy....more
Solicitor of Labor Patricia Smith likes to quip that the Department is “working overtime on overtime.” DOL took a break from the much-anticipated overtime regulations and issued new guidance yesterday on the question of who...more
Under the Obama administration, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has aggressively enforced and interpreted the federal wage and hour laws. Consistent with that approach, on Wednesday January 20, 2016, the Department of...more
The U.S. Labor Department has taken the next step in its nearly-six-year-old "fissured industries" initiative by releasing Administrator Interpretation No. 2016-1, dealing with concepts of "joint employment" under the...more
The Department of Labor's Wage & Hour Division (WHD) has issued an Administrator's Interpretation (AI) establishing new standards for determining joint employment under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the...more
As we have previously reported on this blog, and as most of you are well aware, the U.S. Department of Labor has published its highly-anticipated proposed revisions to the “white collar” exemptions under the Fair Labor...more
Memorial Day weekend has passed, the Major League Baseball season is in full swing, and summer is upon us. With apologies to Roger Kahn, for us wage and hour practitioners, the “Boys of Summer”...more
As 2013 comes to an end, we will consider a number of issues that employers might be facing at the end of the year. In this blog series, we will cover topics such as seasonal hiring, religious discrimination claims stemming...more