labor lawAdivision of labor law center

Every employer should take a few minutes to update his or her labor law posters.

The 2009 labor law posters involve a number of changes that affect virtually every employer.  The EEOC or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has issued a new 2009 labor law poster that updates laws on what is considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA.

The USERRA (Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act) regulations have also been updated, requiring a new 2009 labor law poster.

A number of states will increase the minimum wage (more…)

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or EEOC recently  issued a comprehensive question-and-answer guide that clarifies performance and conduct issues under ADA, the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The document addressing a wide variety of problems, is available in its entirety at  www.eeoc.gov/facts/performance-conduct.html.

Under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act , employment discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities is prohibited.

However, the ADA and Rehabilitation Act generally do not impinge (more…)

On July 24, 2008, the federal minimum wage increased by 70 cents from $5.85 per hour to $6.55 per hour. Like the minimum wage in several other states, the Utah minimum wage also increased to $6.55 per hour.

Unlike the other states, such as Oklahoma, Maryland and South Dakota, Utah doesn’t automatically add the increase to its state minimum wage. The Utah Labor Commission must (more…)

 The U. S. Department of Labor is sponsoring a series of free seminars on updated labor laws for employers in July 2008.

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) of the U.S. Department of Labor provides training to federal supply and service contractors and subcontractors. Topics covered include the agency’s equal employment opportunity laws and regulations. Federal contractors are subject to more stringent anti-discrimination regulations than other employers. In many cases, those regulations apply to all divisions of a company, not just those holding federal contracts. Most of the seminars are scheduled for a half day.

The Department of Labor takes a proactive approach in training employers, especially those with new federal contracts, in the requirements they face under the law.

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Five states increased their minimum wages effective July 1, 2008. They include: Illinois, Michigan, West Virginia, Kentucky and Nevada.

In Illinois, the state minimum wage increased 25 cents from $7.50 to $7.75 per hour. This is the second step in a 3-tiered increase. The state minimum wage will increase again in 2009. The law applies to any employer with 4 or more workers who are not family members.  More details here.

Michigan’s minimum wage also increased 25 cents per hour from $7.15 to $7.40.  The state minimum wage has risen nearly $2.00 since 2005, despite sluggish job growth, problems for the automotive industry and the loss of a number of major employers. The law applies to employers with 2 or more workers. More details here.

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