labor lawAdivision of labor law center

The Alaska Unemployment office sent 1099 statements in January to those who received unemployment benefits last year.  This statement includes the total amount paid and any deductions, tax or otherwise, made to the benefits.  This is the same form that companies use for records of services rendered by people other than regular employees, such as independent contractors or casual labor.

In addition to those who received unemployment benefits, there are others who may get 1099 statements mailed to them.  Anyone who offers personal professional services for a business may also be issued a form.

The W-2 is required to be issued by employers to all employees.  Anyone who works for a company should get one of these forms at the beginning of each year.  All taxes withheld for the year are recorded on this document.  When taxes are filed, this information is used to calculate overpayment and the amount of refund.  It may also show that more taxes need to be paid.

If you do not have an employer, your income is subject to taxes, including unemployment benefits.  Independent contractors, for example, need to report income minus business expenses and pay taxes accordingly.  A self-employed individual with a high income will be required to make quarterly estimated tax payments throughout the year as money comes in.  You may be issued a 1099 for tasks performed for a company that hired you on a project basis, and does not consider you an employee.  This can assist in calculating total income.

In Alaska, 1099 forms have already been issued.  If you were unemployed for any period of time and claimed your benefits, the form should be in hand at this time.  If not, your address may be incorrect and you should contact the Alaska department of labor.  The period for a reissue is typically one week.

Alaska (AK) Labor Laws were not difficult to find online, although they were numerous. In all workplaces, it is a requirement that AK Labor Laws posters be displayed for employees to see. The access to these AK Labor Laws posters should be open to anyone working, so many times employers will place them in areas around the time clock or in break rooms. 

The easiest AK labor law to find was the minimum wage. In Alaska, the current minimum wage is $7.15 per hour, which has been the minimum wage since January 1, 2003. There are several exceptions to the minimum wage law, however. Jobs in agriculture, domestic arenas, independent cab drivers and many more are exempt from the minimum wage law. 

I also found there is a labor law dealing with overtime pay. The normal work week for any employee is 40 hours per week, 8 hours per day. When those amounts are exceeded, AK labor laws state that the employer must give the worker time and a half for any excess time work. Again, you will find exceptions to these AK labor laws, such as when the employer has less than 3 employees or when the person is working a “flexible work schedule”. 

One thing I noticed when it came to AK labor laws that I thought was unusual – employers must keep a record of each employee and the payroll for the company at least three years. All of this information must be kept somewhere in the workplace where it can be retrieved when required. 

On another note completely, Alaska labor laws state that an employer must provide a safe and healthy workplace for all employees. The employer, by law, must provide not only employment, but also a workplace that is free of dangerous hazards that could cause death or serious injury. 

This is far from a complete look at the AK Labor Laws. If you need a more detailed look at the AK Labor laws, you can find them on the Alaska Labor Law Posters. Or you can find several federal and state required posters on the Alaska Complete Labor Law poster. 

As you may know, employers are required by law to have Alaska posters in the lunchroom, break room or a similar area where employees gather or meet on a regular basis, so that workers will understand their labor rights.  I want to give you some basic information about Alaska posters, providing the guidelines on when and where they should be displayed.

Alaska posters may be one of the items checked in a labor inspection.  Therefore, it is certainly in the interest of the employer to keep the information current.  In addition to the employer staying within state and federal guidelines, having the Alaska posters in a prominent place keeps employees advised of rights associated with employment.  Employers should understand that it is their responsibility to make sure the posters can be easily seen.  Not only that, but the employer is responsible for keeping posters current, since laws can and do change.  New information can be provided to employees by using the various Alaska posters. 

Okay, so what posters required?  The required Alaska posters list includes Minimum Wage, OSHA - Health and Safety Protection, Unemployment Insurance, Workers’ Compensation Insurance, Sexual Harassment, Emergency Information and Child Labor.  To meet federal requirements, the necessary posters are Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law, Federal Minimum Wage, Employee Polygraph Protection Act, OSHA-Job Safety & Health Protection, Family and Medical Leave Act and USERRA - Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. 

The USERRA poster requirement is new. This poster gives veterans and their employers the law pertaining to discrimination against armed services, National Guard, and reserve members.  This act, which became law in February 2005, ensures that members of the armed services can reclaim their civilian job after they are absent for military service.  Of course, this new requirement can be very important, making the USERRA information a key part of the Alaska posters displayed. 

A business may have more than one way to get this information to employees and their supervisors, but having current Alaska posters in the right location is essential.  It might be just the right time for the business and its workers to look at the Alaska posters at the job site to see if any information has changed or needs to be changed.  Laws applying to job safety, child labor and other areas may change and it is necessary for employers to provide the most current information.

AK laws pertaining to the work force help set a standard for the state of Alaska. These laws regulate safety, workers’ compensation, Work Opportunity Tax Credit and other issues. 

AK laws require that employers in Alaska follow OSHA safety standards to help prevent injuries on the job. In addition, AK supports OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). The VPP initiative rewards employers who go above and beyond minimum safety standards. These programs help reduce the amount of money that employers have to pay out for injuries as well. 

AK laws also require most employers to provide workers’ compensation for those employees who are injured. In order for the compensation to be provided, however, the injury must have been an accident that has not resulted from abuse of one employee from another or from an employee injured under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 

According to AK laws employers usually pay 80 percent and employees pay 20 percent. The employee’s portion of the worker’s comp agreement can be withheld from that employee’s check. 

There is a provision within AK laws that state the guidelines for employers receiving a tax credit if they hire certain types of people within their company. This program is called the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. 

Another provision of AK laws helps regulate wages and hours. For example, Arizona has decided to pay its workers at least $7.15 per hour for all work done. In addition, this state pays their workers time and a half pay for any hours worked over 40 in one week. 

AK Laws also have numerous other regulations pertaining to a variety of workforce issues. For example, labor laws in Alaska explain which types of deductions can be made from an employee’s paycheck. 

For instance, it is legal to take cash register shortages out of an employee’s check that resulted from lost, theft, or other reason. If it is a case of an employee stealing the money the employee must have agreed in writing that he or she actually took the money. 

All Alaska citizens should read AK laws pertaining to all aspects of workforce regulation. These laws help provide the best working conditions possible. 

As an employer in Alaska, you need to help keep your employees aware of their rights when it comes to labor laws and the best way to do this is to keep an updated Alaska poster of the labor laws posted in a visible area in the workplace.  This area can be an employee workroom or break room or any where else your employees might congregate or at least visit on a regular basis.

The Alaska posters are great for your employees because it helps them stay aware of their rights, but they are also very helpful for you because you can use them as a quick reference to help you know what your responsibilities are when it comes to labor laws in Alaska.  By displaying Alaska posters and keeping them current, everyone in the workplace will know what they are expected to do and not to do when it comes to Alaska labor laws.

Alaska posters should show the state laws including those involving minimum wage, OSHA – Health and Safety Protection, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, sexual harassment, emergency information and child labor.  Federal laws that need to be highlighted on Alaska posters are USERRA – Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law, Federal Minimum Wage, Employee Polygraph Protection Act, Family and Medical Leave Act and OSHA – Job Safety and Health Protection.

Labor laws change often and that includes the laws in Alaska.  If you already have posters in your workplace, you need to check them to make sure they are current since current Alaska posters help protect you and your employees as well as to give you and your employees the necessary protocol if there is a problem in the workplace as outlined by these laws.  Besides, it’s against the law to either not have Alaska posters or to have outdated posters posted in your workplace.