News

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is updating and revising its regulations issued under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA or the Act) that provide guidance on determining joint employer status under the Act. The FLSA requires covered employers to pay their employees at least the federal minimum wage for every hour worked and overtime…

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), coronaviruses are common in animal species, and most don’t affect humans. As of now, only seven different coronaviruses are known to infect humans. In their lifetime, most people will be infected with at least one common human coronavirus. What are the symptoms of coronavirus? Common…

Every day, more than 3 billion phishing emails are sent out worldwide. These emails are tactics used by scammers to trick you into giving up sensitive information about you or your company. This infographic lists eight tips to avoid email phishing scams. (Click image to zoom) Summary Verify sender's email address. Look for spelling errors.…

On Nov. 8, 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a breakthrough in their investigation of the outbreak of vaping related illnesses. The investigators stated that vitamin E acetate -an additive in e-cigarette products- was present in all 29 patient lung fluid samples that they tested. What does this mean? Dr. Ann…

As we start a new year, how are you feeling? This is an important question to consider since wellness will continue to be a huge factor for companies in 2020. Wellness is a hotly debated topic, but it’s certainly not going anywhere in the coming year. In fact, 76% of employees think their workplace has…

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has asserted once again that employers must include nondiscretionary bonuses in their employee’s regular wage rate calculations. In a new opinion letter, the DOL outlines how employers may go about allocating lump sum nondiscretionary bonuses that cover more than one workweek. The issue of bonus allocation is important because…

Overview On Dec. 31. 2019, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued the 2020 optional standard mileage rates, which are used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes. The 2020 standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:…

Federal law imposes the following jury duty leave requirements on all employers: Employers are prohibited from discharging, threatening to discharge, intimidating, or coercing any permanent employee because of the employee's jury service in a federal court. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employers cannot make deductions for absence of an exempt employee due to…

In today’s day and age of just about everything being stored online, the need for strong cyber security practices and policies has never been greater. Cyber crimes and data breaches cost companies millions of dollars every year, and one slip-up in your security can dramatically impact your business’s future. While cyber security measures are necessary…

On Dec. 12, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a new final rule clarifying how to calculate an employee’s regular wage rate under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The regular rate is used to determine an employee’s overtime compensation, and guidelines related to this calculation haven’t been significantly updated in over 60…