Home » Blog » Author » Karen Davis » Page 24

Vigilant Blog

News, trends and analysis in employment law, HR, safety & workers' comp

Showing posts for: Karen Davis

Dec 16 2014
DisabilityQ&A

Essential functions of job may not be as clear as you think

Answer:  Be careful on this one; a court may have a very different perspective on whether the cleaning duties are an essential function of this job under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) says relevant factors could include: • your judgment as the employer; • written job descriptions prepared…

Read More
Dec 11 2014
Wage and Hour

Alert: Supreme Court says no pay for security screening time at Amazon warehouse

Warehouse workers who had to wait up to 25 minutes after their shifts to go through a security screening weren’t entitled to be paid for the time, ruled the U.S. Supreme Court on December 9, 2014. Time spent in tasks before or after a shift must be “integral and indispensable” to employees’ principal activities in…

Read More
Nov 05 2014
Drug and AlcoholOregonSafety and Health

Alert: Oregon voters approve recreational marijuana; are employers prepared?

The November 4, 2014, ballot results of Measure 91 are clear: Oregon voters have joined their Washington neighbors in approving recreational marijuana for individuals who are 21 or older. Employers in these states, as well as neighboring states where employees may cross the border to buy pot, should consider what to do next. The Oregon…

Read More
Sep 10 2014
Labor Relations

Executive Order requires scrutiny of labor law violations

The President recently issued an executive order to require certain federal contractors to disclose labor law violations, provide paycheck notices to employees, and refrain from requiring nonunion employees to sign certain pre-dispute arbitration clauses. The order won’t take effect until regulations are proposed and finalized, however. Executive Order 13673 (Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces) includes…

Read More
Sep 02 2014
CaliforniaWage and Hour

CALIFORNIA: San Diego to require paid sick leave and raise minimum wage

The San Diego City Council overrode the mayor’s veto on August 18, 2014, to pass an ordinance that will require employers in the City to offer paid sick leave and pay minimum wages at a new scale. Employers of all sizes are affected (Earned Sick Leave and Minimum Wage Ordinance 20390). Earned sick leave Employers…

Read More
Aug 14 2014
Drug and Alcohol

Rules finalized for small business health care tax credit

The IRS has published final rules explaining how eligible small employers may claim a partial tax credit for providing health insurance to their employees. To qualify for the credit, the employer must have 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees (FTE), and the average annual wages of the company’s FTEs must be at or below a…

Read More
Jul 17 2014
CaliforniaWage and Hour

CALIFORNIA: Minimum wage for exempt workers increased July 1, 2014

In order for a professional, administrative, or executive employee to be exempt from overtime in California, the minimum annual salary must be at least $37,440 as of July 1, 2014. This is a result of California’s new hourly minimum wage of $9.00 per hour. The minimum annual salary for exempt workers is calculated by multiplying…

Read More
Jul 17 2014
CaliforniaLeave Laws

CALIFORNIA: More family members covered by paid family leave

Effective July 1, 2014, employees in California may take paid family leave to care for a grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or parent-in-law with a serious health condition. The change is the result of a new law that expanded the definition of eligible family members, which originally included only a child, parent, spouse, or registered domestic partner…

Read More
Jun 30 2014
Affirmative ActionHiring

Electric company pays $1M to settle hiring discrimination claims

Following a random audit by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), federal contractor Lincoln Electric agreed to pay $1 million in back wages to African American applicants it rejected for entry level positions. The money will be shared by a pool of 5,557 people who unsuccessfully applied for factory and production jobs. The…

Read More
Jun 12 2014
Affirmative Action

New online resource for finding veterans

Several branches of the federal government have created an interagency online tool to connect military veterans and employers. The new portal, located at ebenefits.va.gov, includes a section where employers can register to post jobs and search for veteran candidates. Tips: As a federal contractor, this offers one more option for expanding your outreach to veterans,…

Read More
Apr 21 2014
Wage and Hour

President orders overhaul of overtime rules

President Obama issued a directive on March 13, 2014, to the U.S. Secretary of Labor to propose changes that would “modernize and streamline” the federal overtime rules. The intent is to shrink the “white collar” exemptions so more workers are eligible for overtime. This change will not happen overnight; the Department of Labor (DOL) will…

Read More
Apr 02 2014
Uncategorized

Supreme Court rules that severance payments are subject to FICA taxes

Severance payments for terminated employees are subject to FICA taxes, as long as the severance isn’t tied to state unemployment benefits, ruled the U.S. Supreme Court today. FICA is the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, which requires workers and employers to pay taxes on wages in order to fund Social Security and Medicare. Quality Stores, Inc.,…

Read More

Is My Company Eligible?

If you are a manufacturing or agriculture employer in Washington and committed to keeping your employees safe and working, you may be eligible for Vigilant's workers' compensation Retro or claims management programs. To see if you qualify fill out our release form now, or contact us.

Release Form
Contact Us
Browse By Category
Browse By Topic
Filter By State
Get Our Newsletter
Sign Up Today
Connect With Us
Linkedin

Don’t Navigate Employment Issues On Your Own

Learn how Vigilant membership can help with your complex employment situations.
Get in Touch Today
Scroll to Top