• The HR Specialist - Print Newsletter
  • HR Specialist: Employment Law
  • The HR Weekly

Wages & Hours

The Obama years: 4 predictions for employment law circa 2012

01/21/2009

President Obama has put forth a significant employment and labor agenda. If he and the Democratic-controlled Congress succeed in passing proposed legislation, the next several years will see the creation of new protected classes, more family leave rights and the re-emergence of labor unions.

Huge Wal-Mart settlement spotlights OT, breaks

01/16/2009

In what’s being described as the largest settlement ever for wage-related lawsuits, Wal-Mart recently agreed to pay as much as $640 million to settle 63 pending lawsuits over wage-and-hour violations.

New minimum wage levels take effect in 11 states

01/16/2009

On Jan.1, the hourly minimum wage increased in 11 states. The federal minimum, currently $6.55 per hour, is scheduled to increase on July 24 to $7.25.

Report shows mixed results for Chicago’s female execs

01/16/2009

The Chicago Network’s 2008 census report, Breaking Away, showed mixed progress for women executives in the greater Chicago area.

Motorola cuts executive pay, freezes employee pension

01/16/2009

Schaumberg-based Motorola announced in December that it would cut executive pay and freeze pension contributions to control costs. Co-chief executives Greg Brown and Sanjay Jha said they would trim their own base salaries by 25% in 2009.

Don’t assume privacy clause guarantees privacy

01/15/2009

Some employers include a privacy clause in their applications and handbooks that tells employees they can opt out of having their names and addresses released to third parties. However, if a worker who is suing for wage-and-hour violations wants to get his hands on employee names and contact information for the purpose of building a class-action case, those privacy clauses can’t stop it.

Remember to recalculate overtime after bonus

01/15/2009

If, like many employers, you rely on a bonus plan to help retain valued employees and motivate them to work hard, don’t get caught in this common trap: Employees who worked overtime during the bonus-earning period will be entitled to additional overtime pay after they get their bonuses.

Maritime arbitration agreements enforceable, trump California law

01/15/2009

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled that cruise lines and the unions who negotiate labor contracts on behalf of the “seamen” who work on cruise ships can agree that all disputes go to arbitration, and that employment contracts that include arbitration clauses are enforceable.

Insurance claims adjusters may be exempt under California law

01/15/2009

Claims adjusters may be exempt from overtime under the California Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Order No. 4. Reason: They’re administrative employees.

San Francisco officers propose age discrimination class action

01/15/2009

A group of police officers recently filed suit against the city and county of San Francisco, claiming the police department has repeatedly promoted and given raises to younger employees instead of to more experienced, older officers.