labor lawAdivision of labor law center

In an effort to reduce costs, many employers are considering furloughs – unpaid leave – for exempt employees. However, furloughs can be a legal minefield, if not handled properly, according to the SHRM, the Society of Human Resource Management.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor regulations issued in 2007, an exempt salaried employee is entitled to his or her full salary in any week in which the employee does any work at all – regardless of the number of hours that the employee works.

Under the federal FairPay regulations , an exempt employee who works for 10 minutes during the week is entitled to the same salary as if he or she worked 100 hours during the week.

Also under the FairPay regulations, if an exempt employee is ready, willing and able to work on a particular day, but no work is available, the employer must pay the worker for that day. For example, if the business in Kentucky is closed by a massive power outage, exempt employees must still be paid for that day. Hourly or non-exempt salaried employees need not be paid, under the FLSA or Fair Labor Standards Act.

This means that an employer cannot furlough an exempt employee (more…)

The Alabama Department of Labor recently took the opportunity to remind employers that with school in session, new regulations apply to those who employee workers under the age of 19.

The regulations take effect on the first day of school, so the date will be slightly different in various areas.

All minors under 18 must have work permits to be legally employed. Permits are issued at all city and county Boards of Education, and at many high schools in the state. Many private schools also issue permits.

According to the Alabama Department of Labor, violations to the state child labor laws (more…)