Minimum Wage
The Importance of Cracking Down on Minimum Wage Violations
A recent investigation by Politico determined that as legislative fights continue concerning raising the minimum wage, enforcement of current minimum wage laws can be a challenge. The national minimum wage remains at $7.25/hour, with several cities and other local municipalities having higher pay rates. Despite the encouraging news that minimum wage rates are rising, many…
Read MoreWhen is an employer required to pay for training time?
A recent federal court decision examined the circumstances when an employer is required to pay a worker for training time. Pursuant to Department of Labor (DOL) rules, employers should evaluate the following criteria to determine whether a worker is a trainee v. an employee who must be paid. These criteria which tend to favor that…
Read MoreMillions of low-wage earners to get a raise in 2017
The nation’s lowest paid workers in 19 states will be getting a pay raise come 2017. Numerous states across the country will be raising their minimum wage after the new year. In Missouri and Washington, the minimum wage will be adjusted to $11/hour, the highest state minimum wage. Other states set to increase their minimum…
Read MoreMinimum Wage Lawsuit Filed Against Amazon
A new wage and hour lawsuit has just been filed against Amazon.com following the launch of its instant delivery system – Prime Now. Prime Now offers “instant delivery” – offering shoppers the option to request the delivery of thousands of items within one-to-two hours. The lawsuit alleges numerous violations, including failing to pay overtime, failing…
Read MoreFight to Increase Minimum Wage Takes Center Stage
The fight to increase the minimum wage is becoming a central issue in the upcoming presidential elections. In a recent Republican debate, one of the first questions was whether the candidates intend to support a raise in the minimum wage, and predictably all said no. However, this is not the end of the story. The…
Read MoreMinimum Wage Increases Gaining Traction
The fight for an increased minimum wage is getting increased traction, with cities on both coasts taking action to raise the wage to $15/hour. In New York, the state has announced that all fast food workers’ wages should be raised to $15 from its current minimum wage of $8.75/hour. Similarly, the University of California has…
Read More21 States To Raise Minimum Wage In 2015
With 2015 approaching, 21 states are set to increase their minimum wage. In nine states, the raise is called for by state laws. These include Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon and Washington. In another four states – Alaska, Arkansas, Nebraska and South Dakota – residents voted to increase the minimum wage.).…
Read MoreEmployee or Volunteer?
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) protects employees in several different ways such as providing that workers be paid minimum wage and non-exempt employees be paid overtime at a rate of one and one-half times their standard rate of pay for each hour worked in excess of 40 in any one work week. However, receiving…
Read MorePresident Obama Seeks To Amend FLSA
President Barack Obama has just released a Presidential Memorandum directing the Secretary of Labor to “propose revisions to modernize and streamline the existing overtime regulations” aimed at revising the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). The FLSA, enacted in 1938 was designed to provide workers necessary labor protections such as minimum wage and overtime pay.…
Read MoreImproper Tip Pooling Leads To Significant Wage And Hour Lawsuit
Recently, a popular sports bar chain agreed to pay millions of dollars to settle a wage and hour claim. The back wage lawsuit arose as the result of the bar’s improperly withholding tips from waiters and bartenders. Additionally, the lawsuit alleged that “Chickie’s & Pete’s,” violated minimum wage and overtime pay laws. Overtime pay and…
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