While we’re on the subject of voting, employers must be aware of their requirements in some states to not only allow their workers time off to go and vote, but to pay them for that time as well. We found this article with the enclosed map particularly helpful in identifying the states where employees are…
In response to the coronavirus pandemic wreaking havoc on the US economy, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) earlier this year implemented an easing of the rules governing Individual Retirement Accounts and various other (401k, 403, 403b, etc.) retirement plans. This week, the agency announced the inflation-adjusted figures and extended many of the enhanced contribution limits…
Periodically, we will hear directly from some federal, state or local regulatory agencies asking us to assist with delivering a message to QSR franchisees in general, or Dunkin’ franchisees in particular, about one issue or another. Whenever possible, we try to accommodate these requests and pass along the information. Such was the case again this…
It didn’t take long for the regulatory and legislative arms of Michigan state government to restore COVID-19 restrictions in the wake of the state Supreme Court invalidating certain executive orders and emergency COVID mandates of Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The good news therein however is HB6030, currently awaiting the Governor’s signature, which provides immunity for businesses…
In other venues, similar court actions have taken place over the past couple of weeks. We advised you just over one month ago about the federal court in Pittsburgh invalidating a statewide shutdown and stay-at-home order by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf. Well, last Friday Governor Wolf made good on his promise to veto HB 2513,…
The new Workforce Transparency Act, signed into law by Governor Pritzker back in August of 2019, amended the Illinois Human Rights Act, eliminating the previous 15 employee threshold and imposing a new reporting requirement on all employers in the state. Under the amended provisions, all employers must report to the Illinois Department of Human Rights…
Hawaii, which last month took “ban the box” policies to a whole new level when Governor David Ige signed a law limiting employer questions about criminal convictions to only the last seven years, is planning to distribute $500 gift cards to residents. Eligible residents, which will include those state residents that applied for unemployment benefits…
In a major rebuke of Governor Gretchen Whitmer, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled her executive orders extending the original declaration of a state of emergency violated the state constitution and was invalid. As backdrop, the Michigan legislature called a state of emergency back when the coronavirus pandemic first broke in March. That order expired however…
An important deadline arrives next week for those employers in Massachusetts covered by the state’s Paid Family Leave Law. The state’s new Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) requires that employers provide updated contact information on their company’s ‘leave administrator’ by next Wednesday, October 14. Payroll deductions to fund the benefit were to have…
As we get closer to the November 3 presidential election, employers must be aware of and complying with their responsibilities to allow their employees time to go to the polls and vote. In fact, some states and municipalities require that workers be given paid time off to exercise their civic duty. The state of New…