Effective July 1, California will raise its minimum hourly wage from $8.00 to $9.00. The increase will also affect the minimum salary requirement for several categories of employees that are exempt from minimum wage and overtime requirements. The minimum salary of...

Most employers have an “introductory” or “probationary” period for new full-time employees. This period is usually defined as a set period of time following the date of hire, usually 90 days in length, during which a new employee is considered to be on “introductory...

This week, the White House announced that the President will issue an executive order that will forbid companies that contract with the federal government from discriminating against employees based on sexual orientation or gender identity. This executive order will...

Q: What are the rules with respect to salaried, exempt employees clocking in and out using a time clock system?A: Whether you require exempt employees to use a time clock is a matter of preference. There is no requirement to track the hours of exempt employees....

In one my favorite episodes of “Seinfeld,” Kramer secures the help of an NYU intern, Darin, for his imaginary company, Kramerica Industries. Darin is an eager learner and a meticulous achiever as he sets appointments with Kramer’s friends for the coffee shop, takes...

The Department of Labor (DOL) has proposed new regulations that would revise the COBRA requirements in an effort to increase visibility of the available options available in the Health Insurance Marketplace. While the proposed regulations will only become effective...

The IRS has recently issued guidance on how qualified retirement plans (such as 401K plans, profit sharing plans, defined benefit pension plans and 403B plans) should apply the Supreme Court’s 2013 Windsor decision, which ruled that same-sex marriages must be...

The HIPAA Privacy Rule went into effect in April 2003 and requires covered entities to provide a HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices. For employers that sponsor a group health plan, this communication is typically provided in open enrollment packets.Covered entities are...

Generally speaking, the Fair Labor Standards Act places no limit on the number of hours or days that an employee age 16 or older may be required to work. In many private-employer environments, exempt employees are expected to work a minimum of 40 hours per week and to...

Beginning January 1, 2015, under the shared responsibility provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), all employees with an average of 30 or more hours of service per week or 130 hours of service per month must be eligible for affordable...

Responding to Social Security Number Mismatches: Threading the Needle between Discrimination and Employment-Eligibility Liability Written: March 7, 2012By Doug HassWith the spring and summer fast approaching, many employers will start hiring additional employees and...

Question:I have an employee who I think has a mental disorder. I know she is having a tough time at home with some personal issues, and I think she is suffering from clinical depression. She seems distracted at work and sometimes we notice her crying at her desk. How...