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LGBT final rule for contractors published

The final rule implementing President Barack Obama’s Executive Order prohibiting federal contractors from discriminating against employees and applicants based on sexual orientation and gender identity has been published in the December 9 Federal Register. The rule implements Executive Order 13672, which Obama signed on July 21. The order directed the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) […]

1 In 5 HR Mangers Admit Women at Their Companies Earn Less

Today, gender equality in the workplace is top of mind for politicians, activists, business leaders and workers. According to a new CareerBuilder survey, more than half of workers (55%) do not believe men and women are paid equally for the same job, and a similar proportion (51%) do not feel men and women are given the same career […]

News Flash: Update On Interim Wage Order Developments

On March 31, the Industrial Welfare Commission held a hearing to address amending the Interim Wage Order that took effect on March 1. Among other things, the IWC appointed members to two new wage boards but tabled for the time being a controversial proposal to exempt highly paid workers from overtime. And it appears as […]

Handling Sexual Harassment Complaints: Court Considers What Is An Appropriate Response To A Harassment Charge; What One Employer Did Right

If you receive a sexual harassment complaint, you must promptly investigate and impose corrective action to stop the harassment. But it’s less clear what you should do if you can’t substantiate the complaint. A new Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision focuses on how far you need to go in this situation.

Reminder about OSHA Posting Requirement

It’s time to post your Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Form 300A, the summary of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred last year. Unless you have 10 or fewer employees or fall within one of the industries normally excused from the Occupational Safety and Health Act’s (OSH Act) recordkeeping and posting requirements, you’re required […]

The Legal Risks of Using Social Networking Websites for Background Checks

Social networking websites—such as Facebook, Friendster, and MySpace—allow users to post information about themselves, to stay in touch with friends and meet new ones. A typical member profile might include photos; education; career interests; lists of family, friends, favorite music, television shows, and films; weekend activities; political leanings; personal musings; and more.

News Notes: New Suits Challenge Overtime Classifications

Two lawsuits charge California employers with misclassifying workers as exempt from overtime requirements. In one case, Denny’s is accused of failing to pay overtime to 1,500 managers. The suit alleges Denny’s understaffed its restaurants, causing managers to spend more than half their time performing nonmanagerial tasks such as serving food. Denny’s says its compensation system […]

Federal Minimum Wage Increases on July 24

On July 24, 2009, the federal minimum wage will increase to $7.25 per hour. The increase is the result of a May 2007 amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which boosted the minimum wage in three steps. The first two steps — to $5.85 and then a year later to $6.55 — were […]