Following the official ending of the COVID-19 public health emergency, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) released a number of key updates to its COVID-19 technical assistance document, “What you Should...more
Happy New Year! Several employment laws became effective January 1, 2023, and our team at Franczek P.C. has compiled them in its new Labor & Employment Law Legislative Update, focused on new laws in effect in 2023. The new...more
1/10/2023
/ Collective Bargaining ,
Employee Rights ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Hairstyle Discrimination ,
Illinois ,
Labor Reform ,
Labor Relations ,
Minimum Wage ,
State Constitutions ,
State Labor Laws ,
Unions ,
Wage and Hour ,
Work Schedules
In the final week of first 100 days of, the Biden administration, significant labor and employment activity includes a Department of Labor (“DOL”) official and two judicial nominations sent to the Senate, a push from the DOL...more
4/29/2021
/ Administrative Appointments ,
Biden Administration ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Labor Law Violations ,
Labor Reform ,
Labor Regulations ,
Labor Relations ,
Minimum Wage ,
NLRB ,
Paid Time Off (PTO) ,
Strategic Enforcement Plan ,
Unions ,
Vaccinations ,
Wage and Hour
In week thirteen, the Biden administration’s labor and employment activity includes the nomination for the Assistant Secretary of Disability and Employment Policy at the Department of Labor (DOL); the Senate committee vote on...more
4/20/2021
/ Administrative Appointments ,
Biden Administration ,
Collective Bargaining ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Labor Reform ,
Labor Regulations ,
Labor Relations ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Minimum Wage ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Small Business ,
Unions ,
Wage and Hour
In week twelve, the Biden administration’s labor and employment activity includes selecting a chief to lead the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), increased staffing at the Equal Employment Opportunity...more
4/13/2021
/ Administrative Appointments ,
Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Enforcement Guidance ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Labor Law Violations ,
Labor Reform ,
OSHA ,
Wage and Hour
In week ten, the Biden administration’s labor and employment activity includes the Senate confirmation of Marty Walsh as Labor Secretary, the nomination of former CEO of the Democratic National Committee to the Solicitor of...more
Each week during the first 100 days of the new administration, we will provide a recap of significant initiatives and events that will impact employers.
In week nine, the Biden administration’s labor and employment...more
3/23/2021
/ Administrative Appointments ,
Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Enforcement Authority ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Labor Reform ,
Labor Regulations ,
OSHA ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
In week eight, the Administration’s labor and employment activity includes the passage of the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, the House’s passage of the PRO Act labor law reform bill, and the upcoming Senate confirmation...more
3/15/2021
/ American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ,
Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Labor Reform ,
Minimum Wage ,
New Legislation ,
Paid Time Off (PTO) ,
Relief Measures ,
Sick Leave ,
Sick Pay ,
Tax Credits ,
Unions ,
Wage and Hour
In week six, the Administration’s labor and employment activity includes a major roadblock to the $15 federal minimum wage increase, an extension of unemployment benefits by the DOL, and unexpected silence by the...more
3/1/2021
/ Amazon Marketplace ,
Biden Administration ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Labor Reform ,
Labor Regulations ,
Labor Relations ,
Minimum Wage ,
Unemployment Insurance ,
Unions ,
Wage and Hour
In week five, the Administration’s labor and employment activity includes a new NLRB General Counsel appointee, an executive order revoking Trump’s industry-led apprenticeship program, the DOL’s continual withdrawal of Trump...more
2/22/2021
/ Administrative Appointments ,
Apprenticeships ,
Biden Administration ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Gig Economy ,
Independent Contractors ,
Labor Reform ,
Labor Regulations ,
Labor Relations ,
NLRB General Counsel ,
Wage and Hour
In week four, the Administration’s labor and employment activity includes further reversal of Trump era initiatives at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), including a move to protect “Scabby the Rat”, the nomination of...more
2/15/2021
/ Administrative Appointments ,
Biden Administration ,
Labor Reform ,
Labor Regulations ,
Labor Relations ,
Minimum Wage ,
NLRA ,
NLRB ,
NLRB General Counsel ,
Unemployment Insurance ,
Unions ,
Wage and Hour
Media reports indicate that President-Elect Joe Biden will tap Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to serve as Secretary of Labor in his administration....more
The Department of Labor (“DOL”) released an opinion letter addressing whether certain overtime payments based on an expected number of hours may be credited towards the amount of overtime pay owed under the Fair Labor...more
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a final rule under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) expressly authorizing employers to offer bonuses, hazard pay, and other premiums to employees whose hours, and regular rate...more
On March 14, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed HR6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act in response to the ongoing coronavirus emergency. HR6201 includes two new laws relating to employee leave from...more
3/17/2020
/ China ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Crisis Management ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Paid Time Off (PTO) ,
Public Health ,
Sick Leave ,
Sick Pay ,
Trump Administration ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
OSHA has released “Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19,” a 32-page booklet describing “lower exposure,” “medium exposure,” and “high or very high exposure” risk occupations and what precautions employers can take...more
3/12/2020
/ Best Practices ,
Business Continuity Plans ,
China ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Crisis Management ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
New Guidance ,
OSHA ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Public Health ,
Risk Management ,
Sick Leave ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
The anticipated spread of coronavirus in the U.S. has many employers revisiting their emergency response plans. Depending on guidance from public health officials, some employees may be directed to work from home, temporarily...more
2/28/2020
/ Best Practices ,
China ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Federal Labor Laws ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Leave of Absence ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Public Health ,
Risk Management ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
The Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the U.S. Department of Labor has issued guidance that collectively-bargained leave policies cannot supersede the requirements of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), even if the...more
In what is perhaps an agency first, the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued a letter in response to a request from a concerned parent. The parent sought an opinion on whether the...more