While many of today’s younger workers – and voters – may not have experienced the bite of inflation eating more of their compensation, those of us who more clearly understand the meaning and impact of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) are already seeing some effect from inflation. Among the many states, counties and cities that…
Read More »The Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) has implemented a couple of changes that Bay State employers need to be aware of. Effective January 1, 2022, the DFML will increase the average weekly wage and increase the maximum benefit for covered leave. At the same time, the Department also announced a decrease in the…
Read More »Well, as we again flip the calendar, it’s important to note what laws may change on the first of any month. As we advised you in past issues, new provisions in the Connecticut equal pay act become effective today (on October 1, 2021) that prohibit pay differences between the sexes for comparable work (rather than…
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Facing a continued staffing crisis and growing labor costs, many businesses are looking beyond the next hire. Consider the barista who never calls in sick or the coffee-making bots that brew up to 300 portions per shift, work 24/7 and never take breaks, except for refilling or cleaning. In many ways, the crippling U.S. labor…
Read More »Last week, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker proposed a supplemental budget that would utilize $1 Billion in federal pandemic relief funds to replenish the state Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. During the height of the coronavirus pandemic with its accompanying layoffs, shutdowns and business closures, the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, funded by a payroll tax on employers,…
Read More »As we get ready to close out the summer months, there are a number of dates approaching where new laws – or changes to existing laws – will become effective that you need to be aware of. We’ve previously advised you that effective September 1, the sexual harassment laws in the state of Texas will…
Read More »It seems there are some out there who refuse to acknowledge that the tip credit and the minimum wage can and should be allowed to peacefully co-exist. As a case in point, in the wake of President Biden’s Executive Order raising the minimum wage for federal contractors to $15 an hour, DOL issued a proposed…
Read More »New York City and the state of Maine aren’t usually packaged together relating political issues, but they are both tightening up employer options regarding criminal background checks. New York City of course, already restricted an employer’s ability to inquire into an applicant’s criminal history, but back in January, passed additional amendments that just took effect…
Read More »Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee, who ascended to the corner office when former Governor Gina Raimondo was confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Commerce under the Biden administration, last week signed legislation mandating equal pay across the Ocean State. The Pay Equity Act prohibits an employer from paying wages to any employees at a rate less…
Read More »The state of Delaware became the latest to adopt a statewide minimum wage of $15 per hour when Governor John Carney signed the minimum wage increase into law this week. Under the law’s provisions, the Delaware minimum (currently $9.25) will rise $1.25 on January 1 of each of the next three years and jump to…
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