The Wisconsin Legislature recently enacted major changes to Wisconsin’s unemployment insurance laws, a number of which will become effective on January 5, 2014. The most significant changes include an expansion of what conduct constitutes “misconduct” and establishes a new standard of “substantial fault,” which if proven, can temporarily disqualify an employee for unemployment insurance benefits. […]
Employment LawScene Blog
It is that time of the year again – the holidays are upon us! Along with the holidays comes holiday parties, which can bring your employees closer together and boost morale. While a fair amount of planning goes into venue, food, and festivities, employers should also plan ahead to avoid potential legal liability that can […]
On November 7, 2013, the U.S. Senate passed the Employment Non-discrimination Act (“ENDA”) with a 64-32 vote. The bill would prohibit employers from discriminating against individuals based on the individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity, similar to the way Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits other types of discrimination. The bill […]
By December 1, 2013, OSHA is requiring employers to provide initial training to its employees on OSHA’s new Hazard Communication Standard. OSHA revised its Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) by adopting the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. The final rule for the new HCS was published in the Federal Register on […]
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has announced that the U.S. Senate will vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (“ENDA”) before the Thanksgiving recess, and perhaps as early as Monday, November 4th. The Employment Discrimination Act (S. 815) would prohibit employers from discriminating against individuals based on the individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity, just […]
Earlier this month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit found that the EEOC failed to establish a prima facie case of religious discrimination where the EEOC could not show that a prospective employee expressly informed the employer of a conflict between the applicant’s religious beliefs and the employer’s dress code and of […]
Generally, if an employee is required to change into work clothing as part of that employee’s job, the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) requires an employer to pay the employee for the time it takes to do so. Section 203(o) of the FLSA, however, contains an exception to this general rule. The exception provides that […]
Recently, the Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the imposition of a $173,250.00 fine against a small drywall installation company for failure to maintain complete and accurate Employment Eligibility Verification Forms (“I-9 Form”). You can find the court’s decision at the following link: Ketchikan Drywall Services, Inc. v. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The […]
The U.S. Department of Labor has extended minimum wage and overtime coverage for certain domestic service employees who provide home health care services for the elderly, infirmed, and disabled. The Labor Department’s new rule will go in effect on January 1, 2015. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) covers individuals employed in domestic services in […]
A recent Employment LawScene™ article discussed the EEOC’s recent heightened efforts to crack down on employers’ use of criminal background checks in making hiring decisions. As part of its efforts, the EEOC issued guidance to employers in April 2012, in which the EEOC endorsed the policy of removing questions regarding criminal conviction history from job […]
Employment Lawscene Team
