Unemployment rates are at historic lows and the economy is booming! That’s good news for business, right? Yes…and no. While low unemployment creates more demand for the goods and services offered by companies, it also means that employers will have to compete for an ever-shrinking pool of workers. This leaves employers with two options: offer … Continue Reading
The recent budget bill contains big changes for businesses with tipped employees. The new law provides that an employer (including its managers and supervisors) may not keep any portion of its employees’ tips even if the employer does not take a tip credit, which is a maximum of $3.02 in Florida. Employers who violate this … Continue Reading
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 community is buzzing with the question: … Continue Reading
Florida and federal law allow restaurants and hotels to pay tipped employees minimum wage, less a credit of $3.02 per hour against tips received. Tips can be pooled and then redistributed to those who are in traditionally tipped positions. However, if an employer wrongly allows non-tipped employees to share in the tips (e.g., supervisors, maintenance, … Continue Reading
It’s that time of year again. The holidays are wonderful, but can produce some dicey situations for your HR Department. The holidays mean a lot of things to different people: whether it’s playing dreidel, decorating a Christmas tree, or doing nothing at all. Employers need to be mindful of the variety of different beliefs held … Continue Reading
I originally hail from Toronto, Canada. As an employment attorney now practicing in Florida, I enjoy comparing US employment laws with their Canadian counterparts. So first, the news from Florida. On January 1, 2018, Florida’s minimum wage will increase from $8.10 per hour to $8.25 per hour. This adjustment is based on the federal Consumer … Continue Reading
This is an exciting time for the Firm, our Labor & Employment Law Department and our clients. We are pleased to welcome two new members to our group and to expand our footprint in Tampa. Janet Goldberg McEnery and Andrew W. McLaughlin each brings a wealth of knowledge and experience and a unique perspective to … Continue Reading
Finally. The wait is almost over. The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether an employer may enforce a mandatory arbitration agreement that contains a class action or collective action waiver. Last Friday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear 3 cases stemming from the NLRB’s 2012 decision in D.R. Horton, in which the NLRB held that … Continue Reading
Late yesterday, a Texas federal Judge issued a nationwide temporary injunction halting the Department of Labor’s (“DOL”) new overtime regulations, which were set to significantly increase the minimum salary required for the executive, administrative and professional overtime exemptions (known as the white collar exemptions). This unexpected ruling prevents the DOL from implementing the new regulations, … Continue Reading
Last October, my wife and I took a short vacation to Scotland. While visiting, I asked a British labor lawyer what was the British national minimum wage. It was £6.70. At the time £1= $1.54. That meant that the British minimum wage was equal to $10.32 per hour in U.S. dollars (and $2.27 higher than … Continue Reading
Florida’s minimum wage is going up. Starting January 1, 2017, Florida’s current minimum wage of $8.05 will increase five cents to $8.10 per hour. For a full-time Florida employee (working 2080 hours), the increase equates to $104 more in wages per year. The five cent increase was based on the Consumer Price Index rise of … Continue Reading
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently published two updated workplace posters: Federal Minimum Wage poster, and Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) poster. (Note: Federal, state or local governments are exempt from the EPPA so no poster is required for these employers) The posters have been visually redesigned and includes a QR Code, which when … Continue Reading
A year ago, Gravity Payments CEO Dan Price announced plans to raise the salary of every employee to $70,000 by 2017, even entry level staffers. In order to help offset the increased labor costs, Price announced his intention to lower his own salary from $1,000,000+ to $70,000 (he apparently made around $2,000,000 in 2012). Needless-to-say, … Continue Reading
With over 400 attendees from more than 200 employers, our 26th Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar was a huge success! Thank you for allowing us to keep you “on Track”. For the first time this year, following our morning sessions, attendees were able to choose from our “high-speed” track designed for experienced HR professionals or our “Hop … Continue Reading
For years, employers have looked for ways to implement a one-size-fits-all paperless (all electronic) pay system for paying employees’ wages. While direct deposit is a good option, there are very few states that allow an employer to implement direct deposit if an employee does not agree. Florida is not one of those states. Even still, … Continue Reading
The NFL is a multi-billion dollar bu$ine$$. Peyton Manning won the Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos. On top of his $15 million salary, he earned a $2 million bonus. Cam Newton lost the Super Bowl, but don’t feel sorry for him; he signed a 5-year $103.8 million contract. For their Super Bowl appearances, every … Continue Reading
The steady stream of cases filed by unpaid interns claiming to be owed minimum wage and overtime compensation under the Fair Labor Standards Act remains on the rise after highly publicized court decisions and settlements. However, courts continue to struggle with how to determine if and when an intern should be paid for work under … Continue Reading
A stripper, an intern, and a minor league baseball player walk into a bar . . . Where is this joke going? To court of course; this is a family-friendly legal blog! What do all three have in common – lawsuits under the Fair Labor Standards Act. A group of former minor league baseball players … Continue Reading
Effective January 1, 2015, Florida’s minimum wage will increase from the current rate of $7.93 to $8.05 per hour. Each year, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity must recalculate Florida’s minimum wage based upon the increase in the federal Consumer Price Index for Urban Earners and Clerical Workers in the Southern Region. Based upon the … Continue Reading
Over the last several months, President Obama has continued his push to revamp the nation’s minimum wage and overtime laws. He has faced an uphill battle. In a Presidential Memorandum dated March 13, 2014, President Obama directed the Department of Labor to “propose revisions to modernize and streamline the existing overtime regulations” under the Fair … Continue Reading
We have blogged in the past whether offering back pay and other expenses to a plaintiff in a lawsuit under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) can “kill” the lawsuit. Some courts have recognized that offering the plaintiff full back pay and expenses makes the lawsuit “moot,” even if the plaintiff rejects the offer. Other … Continue Reading
A recent case from the federal court in Orlando provides a reminder that sharing pooled tips too widely could violate the Fair Labor Standards Act and expose the employer for failing to pay the minimum wage. In Rubio v. Fuji Sushi & Teppani, Inc., a former server sued the restaurant where she had worked for … Continue Reading
For over 30 years, the federal courts in Florida (and in other states) have required that settlements of minimum wage and overtime claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) be reviewed and approved either by a court or the US Department of Labor. Now, one court, the Fifth Circuit Court Of Appeals, the federal … Continue Reading
Effective January 1, 2012, Florida’s minimum wage will increase from the current rate of $7.31 to $7.67 per hour. Each year, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity must recalculate Florida’s minimum wage based upon the increase in the federal Consumer Price Index for Urban Earners and Clerical Workers in the Southern Region. Based upon the … Continue Reading
