18 States Consider Limits on Use of Credit Reports in Screening

March 30th, 2011 Posted by Amelia

, and Montana recently joined 15 states that are considering limits to employers’ use of credit reports in hiring and other .

 

Similar bills are being considered by state legislatures in California, Georgia, Connecticut, Indiana, , Kentucky, Missouri, Jersey, Nebraska, York, Mexico, , Texas, Pennsylvania and Vermont. Check back frequently for the latest updates on those bills.

 

By contrast, New Jersey is currently considering a law that would allow employers to share an employee’s or former employee’s credit history, work evaluations and other information in the personnel file with prospective employers or government agencies.

 

In the last three years Washington, Hawaii, and Illinois have passed laws limiting the use of credit reports in hiring. A similar bill failed to pass in Colorado.

 

In most of these states, the limits to an employer’s use of credit checks apply to all employment decisions. However, the Florida and Michigan bills would only restrict use of credit history in hiring. An employer could still use a for employment decisions regarding current employees.

 

In Florida, Senate Bill 1562 would make use of credit scores an “improper employment practice” unless (more…)

No Comments >> Posted in California,Employment Laws,Flordia,Labor and Employment,Labor and Employment,Labor and Employment,Labor and Employment,Michigan,Montana
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2011 Minimum Wage Requirement Recap – Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Vermont, Washington

December 22nd, 2010 Posted by Cara

Effective January 1, 2011 seven states will the minimum wage: , , , Oregon, , Washington and .

 

New 2011 minimum wages for the states are: 

  • Arizona $7.35
  • Colorado $7.36
  • Montana $7.35
  • Ohio $7.40
  • Oregon $8.50
  • Vermont $8.15
  • Washington $8.67 

Florida and Missouri, which usually update the annually, will not have any increases. The Florida remains at $7.25 per hour, with tipped employees entitled to $4.23 per hour. In Missouri, the is also $7.25 per hour, while a tipped employee can be paid just $3.64 per hour.

 

Every employer should prominently display updated minimum wage and employment law posters in the , in a location where they can be seen by all employees.

 

Washington’s minimum wage is the highest in 2011, while Oregon is in second place. The minimum wages in Connecticut, Illinois and Nevada are tied for third place at $8.25 per hour. However, Nevada employers who offer affordable group health insurance can pay just $7.25 per hour, the same as the federal minimum wage.

 

The Vermont minimum wage will be sixth highest in 2011 at $8.15 per hour. Massachusetts and California are tied for seventh place at $8.00 per hour. The minimum wage in Alaska is $7.75 while Maine and New Mexico require that employees be paid at least $7.50 per hour. The Rhode Island minimum wage rounds out the top dozen at $7.40 per hour.

 

In total, 14 states have minimum wages higher than the federal rate of $7.25 per hour, while 26 states have minimum wages the same as the federal minimum wage. Five states have lower minimum wages, while another five have no minimum wage at all.

 

The minimum wage for tipped employees in the same states will also change. The 2011 rates for tipped employees are:  (more…)

2 Comments >> Posted in Arizona,Employment Laws,Minimum Wage,Other,Wage and Hour
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Washington Minimum Wage is $8.67 in 2011

December 3rd, 2010 Posted by Cara

Effective January 1, 2011 the Washington minimum wage increases by 12 cents from $8.55 to $8.67 per hour. The ’s will remain the highest in the year 2011, followed by at $8.50 per hour.

 

Every Washington employer must prominently post an updated 2011 minimum wage poster.

 

Tipped employees in Washington are entitled to the full minimum wage of $8.67 per hour because the state does not allow a tip credit.

 

The 1.4% increase is based on the nationwide Consumer Price Index for Urban and Clerical Workers in the year ending August 31, 2010. The increase was announced by Washington Bureau of Labor and Industry Judy Schurke after some legal debate, including an alternate opinion by the state Attorney General’s office.

 

This is the first increase in the since January 1, 2009. There was no in 2010 because the cost of living declined slightly due to the recession. 

 

Across the nation, nine states make adjustments to the minimum wage in January. Those states include Oregon, , , Arizona, , Colorado, , and Missouri, in addition to Washington.

 

Many states exempt agricultural workers from the minimum wage, but Washington does not. However, in many cases agricultural workers are exempt from (more…)

No Comments >> Posted in Employment Laws,Minimum Wage,Other,Wage and Hour,Washington
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Appeals Court: Volatile Behavior Warrants Fitness-for-Duty Exam

October 6th, 2010 Posted by Amelia

The federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that an employer can require an employee to undergo a fitness-for-duty based on the employee’s , as a pre-emptive measure to prevent or harmful conduct, particularly in a hazardous job.

 

In practical terms, this ruling means that when an employee threatens other workers, has explosive temper tantrums or otherwise acts in an aggressive or hostile manner, the employer does not have to wait to request (more…)

No Comments >> Posted in Federal Labor Laws,Judicial Decisions
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Domestic Partnership Laws for 2010

January 15th, 2010 Posted by Derrick

A number of states have implemented laws that require employers to recognize domestic partnerships for benefit purposes, including partnerships between gay or lesbian couples.

 

From a practical standpoint, these laws mean that in selected states, employers who offer benefits to spouses of employees must offer similar benefits to registered domestic partners in many cases, including same-sex couples. In many cases, it also entitles the couples to family leave under a law.

 

Most employers will find that the biggest difference is in (more…)

No Comments >> Posted in Human Resources,Other
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