Missouri, which had previously become a “right to work” state back in February 2017 when Governor Eric Greitens signed it into law, will have the voters deciding the issue again in the August primary election this year. Organized labor and other right to work opponents initiated a petition campaign over a year ago to suspend…
For seven generations, my family has lived in Evansville, Indiana. My great-great-great-grandfather came here from Ireland in 1828 to start a farm just a mile away from where I live today. He sought the wide open territory to begin life anew in a promising land. From this beginning, the Midwestern values of hard work, hospitality…
Concerted efforts to increase minimum wages across the country began with President Obama’s call for a national minimum wage of $9.00 in his 2013 State of the Union message but 5 plus years later, the mantra for still more increases continues in many states. Democratic lawmakers in Ohio are currently pushing legislation that would increase…
As more municipalities get involved in mandating what have historically fallen within the purview of the state or federal government, the notion of passing state preemptions becomes more important. On the matter of salary history bans, the state of Michigan recently took precisely that action, sending Senate bill 353 to Governor Rick Snyder for his…
Technically, the Fight for $15 began at the start of this decade with President Obama pushing an increase in the federal minimum wage in his 2010 State of the Union address, but the effort continues at full speed in state houses and town halls across the country. In North Dakota, advocates are planning to put…
The Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC) has approved a reduction in private employer insurance premiums of 12% to be effective July 1, 2018. During its deliberations, the BWC determined that the reduction would save Ohio businesses as much as $163.5 million. Further, BWC cited a number of factors that played into the reduction, chief…
It may be a novel approach in these days of government mandates for everything, but an Indiana state senator is asking the Indiana Legislature to create a study committee to specifically consider the benefits of a voluntary paid family and medical leave program. We saw with minimum wages, many companies voluntarily increased the minimums paid…
Bryan Stolte started working in restaurants when he was 16, first as a busboy for his sister’s restaurant, and later as director of operations for Dunkin’ Brands, before becoming owner of his own restaurants. He is quick to tell you that good relationships are key to having a successful business. Today, as head of two…
I have always been a big sports fan, pretty much any sport too, where the game is challenging and the skills of the players something to behold. So, it should come as no surprise that I am a fan of the Olympic Games, and while watching the dazzling opening ceremony, I had a bit of…
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) missed an opportunity to put the issue to bed once and for all this week when the court announced that it would not take up a case addressing whether DirecTV is a joint employer under the Fair Labor Standards Act. By rejecting the Petition for a Writ…