Stearns Weaver Miller

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Is It Already Hurricane Season?

If the folks on the news are talking about el Niño, it must be hurricane season. Last year, Hurricane Ian reminded us how devastating a storm can be. However, even less menacing storms can disrupt our lives and businesses. With that in mind, we once again offer tips on how to prepare your business for the new … Continue Reading

REGISTER NOW! Miami Labor & Employment Law Breakfast Series

Ver la versión en español aquí. In lieu of our annual seminar, we will be hosting a two-part breakfast series in our Miami office. In Part 1, we will analyze rapid changes in employment law and provide suggestions on how to navigate the multiverse of employment problems now facing HR. Stay tuned for details on Part … Continue Reading

The Overwhelmed Employee and the Clueless Employer–A Tale of the Hidden Costs of Off-the-Clock Work

Ver la versión en español aquí. In the last few months, a number of employers have reported being flabbergasted to discover non-exempt employees working very early mornings, late nights or weekends “off the clock” (after working 40 hours on-the-clock).  Apparently, no one in management asked or knew that off-the-clock work had occurred.  How does this … Continue Reading

WEBINAR: Leveraging your 401(k) Plan to Increase Employee Retention

Ver la versión en español aquí. Thursday, February 16th, 2023 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM A 401(k) can do more than help employees save for retirement. New laws, including SECURE 2.0 have created additional ways for plans to better serve the needs of employees. Please join Shareholders Sharon Quinn Dixon and Andy McLaughlin for this … Continue Reading

Happy Holidays from Stearns Weaver Miller’s Labor & Employment Department!

Ver la versión en español aquí. Thank you for being a subscriber. Wishing you a joyous holiday season and happy, healthy year ahead. We hope that BeLabor the Point has brought you important information throughout the year and a few smiles along the way. Speaking of smiles, click on the image below to view our Labor & … Continue Reading

Florida Court Rules Expectant Father Not Entitled to FMLA

Ver la versión en español aquí. Employers are regularly having to grapple with how and when to give their employees leave when their employees are expecting a child.  Unfortunately, the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) does not always provide the clearest answer as to when employers are obligated to provide employees with protected leave.  However, … Continue Reading

Top Takeaways from Our 2022 Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar

Ver la versión en español aquí. Wow, it has been a whirlwind past few weeks! It was great to see so many of you at our Labor Seminars in Miami, Tampa and Tallahassee. We hope you were able to gain valuable insight into a wide range of topics of interest and importance to you. If … Continue Reading

Working on July 4th… Downtime or Overtime?

Ver la versión en español aquí. Reposting due to popular demand.  Nearly two and half years into the pandemic, people are itching to connect in group settings. The 4th of July is a major holiday where folks get to spend time with loved ones, travel and embrace their time off work. This holiday is always … Continue Reading

U.S. Supreme Court Cracks Down on Late Arbitration Demands

Ver la versión en español aquí. Does your company have employees that sign agreements to arbitrate any disputes arising from their employment contracts? Then a recent U.S. Supreme Court case serves as a cautionary tale for companies looking to enforce these arbitration agreements.  The lesson is to demand arbitration as early as possible or else … Continue Reading

Working on the Holidays… Downtime or Overtime?

As mandates are lifted and more Americans are getting vaccinated, many people are beginning to feel comfortable in group settings, especially outdoors.  After more than a year of limited in-person celebrations, 4th of July is the first major holiday that may see more people gathering and wanting to embrace the time off work. This holiday … Continue Reading

ADA Remote Work as a Reasonable Accommodation – It’s Time to Dust Off Those Interactive Process Hats!

Ver la versión en español aquí Until recently, having a pre-existing medical condition bumped you to the front of the line for eligibility to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Florida. But as of yesterday, April 5, all Floridians age 18 and older are now eligible to receive a vaccine. As a result, I suspect in … Continue Reading

Psst, Florida HR Pros: NY Paid Sick Leave Law Takes Effect September 30, 2020

Ver la versión en español aquí For those employers who also have New York employees, heads up: a new leave law will apply to you starting this Wednesday. New York has enacted a state-wide, permanent sick leave law, separate and apart from the state’s COVID-19 Quarantine Leave Law. In an unusual twist, this state law … Continue Reading

Federal Paid Leave Law Signed by President Trump

On Wednesday evening, March 18th, President Trump signed into law the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the “Act”), which, among other things, mandates paid time off for certain qualifying events. There are two primary components in terms of paid time off: (1) the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (“E-FMLA”); and (2) the Emergency … Continue Reading

New Florida Minimum Wage on the 2020 Horizon

Ver la versión en español aquí Effective January 1, 2020, the Florida minimum wage rate will increase by 10 cents from the current $8.46 per hour, to $8.56 per hour. This 10 cent increase is less than half of the 21 cent increase the state saw from 2018 to 2019. Restaurant and hotel employers may … Continue Reading

Grooming Standards: No Longer So “Hair-Larious”

Ver la versión en español aquí After seeing several players’ hair covering their jersey numbers during a performance of the Star Spangled Banner, former New York Yankees’ owner, George Steinbrenner, instructed the players to cut their hair. It was then, in 1973, that the New York Yankees’ grooming policy was born.  The official team policy … Continue Reading

Performance Evaluations Are… Coming to Town?

Ver la versión en español aquí “He’s making a list and checking it twice. He’s going to find out who’s naughty or nice… performance evaluations are…” Coming to town? Indeed. The end of year is not only holiday season, but also the time of year when a number of employers complete performance evaluations of their employees. Just like … Continue Reading

Top Takeaways from Our Annual Tampa Labor & Employment Law Seminar

Ver la versión en español aquí Our first Annual Tampa Labor & Employment Law Seminar was a success, with more than 70 attendees! We anticipate growing the seminar in the coming years and will use your feedback to determine future topics and content. Thank you to all who attended. Congratulations to our blog contest winner! … Continue Reading

“You’re Too Experienced” – Age Discrimination?

Ver la versión en español aquí In January 2015, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a federal lawsuit in Miami, Florida, against Seasons 52, a national restaurant chain.  The EEOC alleged Seasons 52 discriminated against older job applicants at 35 of its restaurants nationwide. During the litigation, the EEOC presented testimony from over 135 … Continue Reading

Top Takeaways from Our 28th Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar

Ver la versión en español aquí Another successful seminar in the books! Thank you to the nearly 400 attendees who came from near and far. We hope you enjoyed the day and that our presentations provided timely, relevant and valuable insight. Congratulations to our blog contest winners! You will receive complimentary registrations to our 2019 Seminar. Monelle Petgrave, Amadeus … Continue Reading

The Department of Labor’s Proposed PAID Program: An Invitation to Turn Yourself In or to Turn Yourself Inside Out?

Ver la versión en español aquí Last week, the U.S. Wage and Hour Division (“WHD”) announced that it will soon offer employers the chance to self-report to the WHD and potentially resolve minimum wage and overtime violations. This opportunity will be offered under the new WHD Payroll Audit Independent Determination (“PAID”) program. The employment law … Continue Reading

#MeToo Movement Motivating State AGs to Seek Changes in Federal Law

Ver la versión en español aquí Last week, the Attorneys General (“AGs”) in each state and U.S. territory all announced their support for ending mandatory arbitration of sexual harassment claims.  They wrote Congress that the “secrecy requirements of arbitration clauses” as applied to sexual harassment claims “disserve the public interest … [by creating] a culture … Continue Reading
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