Stearns Weaver Miller

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Stuck In The Middle With You

Ver la versión en español aquí Florida employers face conflicting federal/state legal obligations. It can be tough to keep up. On Thursday of last week, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) establishing mandatory vaccination requirements for employers with 100 or more employees. The regulation was published in … Continue Reading

Employers with less than 250 employees: You now have to report all new employees and independent contractors hired!

Ver la versión en español aquí Employers with more than 250 employees have always been required to report “new hires”.  Effective October 1, 2021, however, regardless of how many employees an employer has, all Florida employers need to report new hires, and in addition certain “independent contractors” to the Florida Department of Revenue within 20 … 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

State tax withholding and other obligations for remote workers. What you don’t know CAN hurt you. (PART 1)

Ver la versión en español aquí A year into the pandemic, many employees have fled their home states to work remotely out-of-state.  These employees have been working “remotely” in states in which their employers have no operations. So what’s the problem? State and local taxes and employment laws, of course. This blog is part one … Continue Reading

All I Want for the Holidays is a COVID-19 Vaccine!

Ver la versión en español aquí Finally, there is a light at the end of this tunnel.  COVID-19 vaccines have been approved for use and are currently being shipped nationwide. COVID-19 vaccinations are a polarizing topic.  Well-regarded medical professionals report that the vaccines are between 94-95% effective, have minimal side effects (which do not include … Continue Reading

Department of Labor Weighs in on Employees vs. Independent Contractors

Ver la versión en español aquí The U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) recently posted a proposed rule meant to help employers determine whether individuals performing services are employees or independent contractors for purposes of federal wage and hour laws.  Misclassifying an employee as an independent contractor is risky and exposes an employer to potential expensive … 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

Why Can’t We All Just Get Along?

Ver la versión en español aquí This sentiment is perfect for a Kenny Chesney summer concert.  Now it looks like the NLRB and the EEOC can “get along”, and at the same time make it easier for employers to appropriately discipline employees who engage in unacceptable behavior, even if that behavior occurs during otherwise “protected” … Continue Reading

5 Tips for Maximizing Productivity for Remote Employees

Ver la versión en español aquí The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the majority of businesses to at least offer, if not require, work-from-home options for employees. Employers are now facing many challenges that come with maintaining the same level of productivity when employees are working remotely. Below are a few guidelines to help ensure that … 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

IRS Applies Some WD-40 to its Form W-4

Ver la versión en español aquí Employers need to update their new hire paperwork to include the recently revised Form W-4 for 2020. The new Form W-4 reflects the changes made to the tax code in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which changed the standard deduction and created a new dependent credit. As … 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

Strict Enforcement of Non-Negotiable Employment Policies: A Few Horror Stories

Ver la versión en español aquí While having well written policies and procedures for employees is very important, these policies and procedures cannot cover every situation. Employers need to retain some flexibility. Non-negotiable rules can violate employment laws and result in very expensive claims. How expensive?… Continue Reading

“5 Tips to Help Avoid Employment Lawsuits” Key Takeaways

Ver la versión en español aquí Last week, I had the pleasure of presenting at the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce’s IMPACT Series: A Seminar Series for Small Business. The audience was comprised of business and human resources professionals across several sectors. For those of you who were not able to attend the presentation, I … Continue Reading

Religious Discrimination: Gone Today, Hair Tomorrow

Ver la versión en español aquí As an update to this post from April, New York recently became the second state to prohibit race discrimination based on hair bias. The bill, signed into law on July 12: Prohibits race discrimination based on natural hair or hairstyles; defines “race” for certain specific purposes to include, but … 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

Reading Your Employment Policy Documents Probably Won’t Win You $10,000- It Could Be Worth Much More

Ver la versión en español aquí Recently, an insurance company released a story about a secret contest it launched offering $10,000 to the first person who read their insurance policy. The catch: the only way you could find out about the contest was to actually read the policy. 73 policies were sold and sent out … Continue Reading

Don’t Be Snake Bit. Make Sure the COBRA Notices You Use Are Correct.

Ver la versión en español aquí Using a vendor for your COBRA compliance does not mean you are safe from claims. The employer bears ultimate responsibility for complying with COBRA. It appears that Pepsico and Lockheed may be about to learn this lesson.  Both were sued recently in Hillsborough County for failure to send proper … 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

Tips For Having a (Hopefully) Happy Office Holiday Party

With the New Year right around the corner, office holiday parties are in full swing. While many enjoy celebrating the season, these festivities can sometimes turn into an HR disaster. To help ensure your celebrations are jolly, check out my tips on planning a fun, festive and inclusive holiday party here. Wishing you all a safe, happy … Continue Reading

This Is Important: Employers Need To Immediately Update Their FCRA “Summary Of Rights” Form

Ver la versión en español aquí Effective September 21, 2018, employers who use outside agencies (consumer reporting agencies) to conduct employee background checks must use a new (and revised)  “A Summary of your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act” form. This updated form is one of the many notices employers must provide under the Fair … Continue Reading

Nothing to Sneeze at: Chemical Sensitivities, Bed Bugs, Zika and Flu Shots

Ver la versión en español aquí I recently spoke at the SHRM 2018 Annual Conference & Exposition in Chicago. My topic was  “Health Issues are Nothing to Sneeze at: Chemical Sensitivities, Bed Bugs, Zika and Flu Shots.” SHRM had over 18,000 attendees. It was a great opportunity to discuss some of the legal issues employers face when … Continue Reading
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