Report: Fewer FLSA Cases Filed in 2011 than 2010
The number of Fair Labor Standards Act civil lawsuits filed in 2011 declined 7.2 percent, according to a recent report by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. In all, 6,335 FLSA cases were commenced in district courts nationwide during…
Rhode Island Recognizes Other States’ Same-sex Marriages
Same-sex marriage is not legal in Rhode Island, but employers there must make provision for employees’ same-sex spouses nonetheless. Gov. Lincoln Chafee (I) on May 14 signed an executive order announcing that Rhode Island will recognize the validity of same-sex…
7th Circuit: Pharmacy Reps Exempt from FLSA as “Administrative Employees”
Although the Supreme Court will soon decide whether pharmaceutical sales representatives (PSRs) may qualify for the Fair Labor Standards Act’s “outside sales” exemption from overtime pay, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in early May that PSRs could…
EBSA Loosens Health Reform Rules for SBC Delivery, Stays Enforcement
A set of safe harbors related to the enforcement of summaries of benefits and coverage (SBCs), which insurers and plan sponsors must distribute as part of health care reform, was issued May 11 by the U.S. Department of Labor and…
DOL Debuts MHPAEA Web Page, Adds FAQs
The U.S. Department of Labor has collected its rules, guidance and other materials on the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act into a new MHPAEA Web page. The materials on this page include a new set of frequently asked…
Obama’s Same-sex Marriage Statement Doesn’t Change Employer Plans’ Status Quo
Employers likely will need to continue to pay close attention to how their individual states’ approach to same-sex marriage will affect their employee benefit plans, regardless of President Obama’s newly articulated support for it. The president on May 9 said…
N.C. Voters Nix Same-sex Marriage: Implications for Employers
Employers in North Carolina will not face the complications their counterparts in states where same-sex marriage is legal or recognized do, but local and municipal governments that provide domestic partner benefits may have to change their policies. Tar Heel State…
Inconsistent Wage/Hour Laws Lead to Confusing Enforcement, Study Says
According to a recent study, uneven enforcement of the Fair Labor Standards Act — lax in some places and more stringent in others — leaves employers confused about the extent of their liability for wage and hour violations. The study,…
DOL Misclassification Initiative Focuses on Drug Reps, Farm Hands and Home Nurses
Whether an employee is exempt from the FLSA has been a turbulent topic this year, as both DOL and Congress have been issuing proposals and bills regarding exempt jobs. DOL has been involved with the status of pharmaceutical representatives, in-home…
Reporting Businesses FLSA Violations Is Now Just a Smartphone App Away
Business owners should be aware that customers typing away on their smartphones might actually be reporting FLSA violations to the U.S. Department of Labor. DOL’s recently created smartphone app, “Eat Shop Sleep,” allows users to search for places to eat,…