PRESIDENT OBAMA EXPANDS OVERTIME PAY LAWS
Last week, President Obama announced changes to the overtime pay laws by expanding its protection to almost 5 million workers. Currently, under the Fair Labor Standards Act, workers who earn more than $455 per week, that is, $23,660 per year,
NJ GAS STATION ATTENDANTS AWARDED $5.5 MILLION IN BACK WAGES
The U.S. Labor Department reported that over 1,100 gas station attendants in New Jersey have received $5.5 million in back wages and damages over the past five years as a result of the Labor Department’s “multiyear enforcement initiative.” The Labor
INQUIRIES ABOUT CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS BARRED FROM NYC JOB APPLICATIONS
The “Fair Chance Act,” a bill providing protection to prospective employees with criminal histories during the interview process, was recently passed by a 45-5 vote by the New York City Council. Under the bill, private employers are barred from asking
NEW YORK NAIL SALONS MUST POST BILL OF RIGHTS
In an effort to eliminate the exploitation of nail salon workers, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued a workers’ bill of rights that must be posted in plain view at every nail salon. The posters are printed in 10 languages
U.S. SUPREME COURT RULES AGAINST ABERCROMBIE & FITCH IN RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION CASE
We reported last year that the U.S. Supreme Court was set to hear an appeal in a religious discrimination case commenced by Samantha Elauf, a Muslim woman, in 2008. Elauf alleged that she was denied a salesperson position at an Abercrombie
THIRD CIRCUIT REVIVES SLEEPY’S DRIVERS SUIT
As we previously reported, the delivery drivers of Sleepy’s LLC commenced a class action lawsuit alleging that the Company misclassified them as independent contractors, thereby denying them certain employee protections and benefits. The lower court ruled that the drivers were
GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES STATEWIDE EMERGENCY MEASURES TO PROTECT NAIL SALON WORKERS
Earlier this week, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that a multiagency task force will conduct investigations of nail salons and institute new rules that salons must comply with to protect manicurists from potentially dangerous chemicals found in nail
NJ COURT REJECTS CHALLENGE TO TRENTON SICK LEAVE LAW
In November, Trenton passed an ordinance that entitles certain employees to paid sick leave. Business groups, including The New Jersey Business and Industry Association, State Chamber of Commerce, New Jersey Food Council and others, filed a lawsuit in an attempt
NYC BANS THE USE OF CREDIT CHECKS FOR SOME JOB SEEKERS
Last week, the New York City Council passed legislation that bans most NYC employers from checking a prospective employee’s credit history during the hiring process. The bill, sponsored by councilman Bill Lander, passed by a vote of 47-3 and serves
SEC ANNOUNCES FIRST ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST COMPANY IN WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION CASE
Whistleblowers are given protection under Section 240.21F-17 of the Dodd-Frank Act. The rule states, in part, “No person may take any action to impede an individual from communicating directly with the Commission staff about a possible securities law violations, including