November 3, 2015, 2:00-3:15 p.m. EASTERN
The NLRB's recent ruling in the Browning-Ferris Industries case relaxes the standard for determining when two companies constitute "joint employers" under the National Labor Relations Act.
The 黑料不打烊-supported Construction Labor Research Council (CLRC) has released its second report of the year on collective bargaining settlements in the industry. Settlements reported between January and September 2015 resulted in an average first-year wage-and-benefit increase of 2.5 percent or $1.25.
On September 16, the U.S. Department of Labor鈥檚 Wage and Hour Division (WHD) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing a new minimum wage rate of $10.15 for direct federal contracts and subcontracts covered by Executive Order 13658. Federally assisted contracts are not affected. The rate goes into effect on January 1, 2016.
On September 7 (Labor Day), President Obama announced a new executive order (EO) that will require federal contractors and subcontractors to provide up to seven days of paid leave for sickness and other covered purposes to covered employees annually. The new requirement will impact new federal contracts or contract-like instruments entered into on or after January 1, 2017. Federally assisted contracts are not impacted.
On September 11, the U.S. Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) issued its Final Rule implementing Executive Order 13665, which prohibits federal contractors from discriminating against employees and applicants who ask about or discuss compensation. The regulations are effective January 11, 2016.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on August 6 issued an updated Form 1095-C and instructions following a June 9 letter from 黑料不打烊 of America and the Food Marketing Institute urging the agency to make the revisions. Form 1095-C is one of the forms used by employers to report information regarding the cost and level of health coverage offered to employees under the employer mandate provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The form allows the IRS to verify whether an employer is subject to penalties under the employer mandate provisions of the ACA. A draft version of the updated form and instructions are available on the IRS website.
The National Labor Relations Board (鈥淣LRB鈥 or 鈥淏oard鈥) has successfully defended recent changes to union-representation case procedures for the second time in federal district court. In the latest case, Chamber of Commerce v. NLRB, the 黑料不打烊-supported U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, along with others, sued the NLRB over the rule in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. On July 29, the court granted the NLRB鈥檚 motion for summary judgement.
The U.S. Department of Labor鈥檚 Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) recently released an infographic to help veterans determine whether or not they are protected under the Vietnam Era Veterans鈥 Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA).
The U.S. Department of Labor鈥檚 Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) recently made available on its website a Checklist for Compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a law requiring that federal contractors take affirmative action and do not discriminate against individuals with disabilities. The new tool was created to help contractors assess their compliance with the regulations that govern the law.
On Wednesday, July 15, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued an interpretative guidance memo aimed at addressing the misclassification of employees as independent contractors. The DOL's position is that most workers qualify as employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and its broad definition of "employ."