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Exempt Employees: IWC Approves Changes To Rules For Overtime Exemptions

Following a contentious debate, the Industrial Welfare Commission has approved new wage orders that modify the definitions of managerial, administrative and professional employees who are exempt from overtime. The new standards bring California in line with the federal rules defining employees who are exempt from overtime. And supporters of the changes say this will make […]

Overhauling overtime

by Adam P. Boyd The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes basic rights and wage protections, including overtime pay requirements, for American workers. The majority of workers covered by the Act must be paid 1 1/2 times their regular pay rate for all hours worked in excess of 40 per workweek.  On March 13, President […]

‘Love Contract’—What’s That?

There have been a slew of reports recently about executives carrying on affairs that end up coming back to bite them. The most notable headline: CIA Director David Petraeus’s affair with his biographer, a relationship that directly led to his resignation. In another report, an exec, the president of Lockheed Martin Corp., was forced to […]

DO Check Google and MySpace / DON’T Check Google and MySpace

What do you do when the experts’ advice conflicts? Some experts say run Google searches on every candidate and don’t forget their MySpace and Facebook pages. Others say, stay away, you don’t want that information. So should you surf or not? It’s annoying when the experts don’t agree, but it doesn’t mean you’re paralyzed. Here […]

Surviving an OSHA Inspection

by John Hall When your friendly Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspector comes a-knockin’, it’s usually too late to get your house in order. Here are some dos and don’ts to prepare you for an OSHA inspection and minimize your chances of citations. Preparation is your best defense Don’t wait until OSHA is at […]

Provincial labor force differences across Canada

by Brian P. Smeenk Canada is a diverse country. Its ten provinces and three territories are endowed with varying natural resources and have developed their own industrial infrastructures and labour markets. Nevertheless, education is always a major factor in the ability to find a job. So commences a very interesting, recently published study by Statistics […]

Remembering 9-11, and Protecting Your Business From New Terrorist Threats

It’s unfortunate that as we reflect back on 9-11 and the lives that were sacrificed, we also worry about new terrorist threats allegedly being made near this important 10th anniversary. But one way to conquer worry is to be prepared, and here are some important emergency management planning tips that employers should consider. But first, […]

Investigation Accuses Wage and Hour Division of Blunders that Fail Workers

After a nine-month undercover investigation into the Department of Labor’s (DOL) ability to enforce and investigate violations of federal minimum wage, overtime, and child labor laws, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports serious failures. The report, which was released March 25, was prompted by a request from the House Education and Labor Committee. The investigation […]

The Basics of E-Verify

E-Verify is a system that checks the Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) databases using the information from Section 1 of the I-9 form. Employers initiate the E-Verify query within 3 business days of the start date of employment. Right now, it is only used for newly-hired employees, unless you’re covered by […]

Working Through Religious Beliefs in the Workplace

By Sharolyn Whiting-Ralston In today’s world, employers face cultural and faith issues in the workplace. To further complicate matters, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has begun paying more attention to those issues. A recent case out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, serves as a reminder about your obligations when taking into account cultural or religious differences […]