The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (“WHD”) recently issued Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) No. 2023-1 to address breaks for employees who telework under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), and application of the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) to teleworking employees.
The FLSA requires covered employers to pay nonexempt employees for all hours worked, including work performed in their home or otherwise away from the employer’s premises or job site.… Continue Reading
On December 29, 2022, as part of the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Spending Bill, President Biden signed into law two pieces of legislation that will benefit pregnancy and nursing mothers – the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act). … Continue Reading
In a new set of Frequently Asked Questions, the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury provide significant relief to health plan sponsors and insurers seeking to report on expenditures for prescription drugs and other health care items and services in compliance with the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.… Continue Reading
On October, 11, 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released a proposed rule to update the test for determining whether a worker is an employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) or an independent contractor. The proposal would significantly broaden the classification of workers as employees under the FLSA. … Continue Reading
On August 19, 2022, the U.S. Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health & Human Services issued final rules entitled, “Requirements Related to Surprise Billing: Final Rules,” which modify the independent dispute resolution (IDR) process implemented under the No Surprises Act.
The No Surprises Act (the Act), enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA), created novel protections against out-of-network balance billing and established an IDR process for resolving payment disputes between certain providers and health plans when they are unable to agree upon an appropriate price for out-of-network services. … Continue Reading
Plaintiffs in Alcantara v. Duran Landscaping alleged that their former employer violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act because it failed to pay overtime premiums. Less than a year after filing suit, the parties notified the court that they resolved the claims and requested a phone call with the court to seek approval of the agreed upon settlement without having to spend the money on a formal motion.… Continue Reading
This week, in Hughes et al. v. Northwestern University et al., the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) imposes a duty of prudence on fiduciaries that includes a continuing duty to monitor investments and remove imprudent investments in a reasonable time. The defined contribution plans at issue each allowed participants to choose their individual investment mix from a menu of options selected by the plan administrators.… Continue Reading
The U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (DOL-WHD) and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) announced plans to collaborate “to enhance and maximize the enforcement of the federal laws administered between the two agencies.” The DOL-WHD enforces the minimum wage and overtime requirements while the NLRB enforces the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).… Continue Reading
The U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) published a Final Rule on Monday November 22, 2021 raising the minimum wage for federal contractor employees to $15 an hour. The Rule takes effect on January 30, 2022 and will apply to new or updated contracts with the U.S. Government. The higher wage will apply to existing contracts when parties exercise their option to extend contracts, which often occurs annually.… Continue Reading
On November 10, 2021, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board) issued a Memorandum outlining employers’ duty to bargain with unions over the implementation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS).
The Memo provides that employers have bargaining obligations regarding aspects of the ETS that affect terms and conditions of employment, to the extent the ETS provides employers with choices regarding implementation.… Continue Reading