The U.S. Department of Labor’s 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."
Only July 23, the House Education and Workforce Committee hosted a hearing to review the impact of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division’s proposed rule to change the overtime regulations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Íæż½ã½ã partnered with a joint employer coalition group dedicated to advocating the interests of employers with regard to the proposed changes, which submitted a letter to the House Committee highlighting the impact of the proposed changes on employers.
Recently, the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) announced proposed changes to the overtime regulations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. If implemented without changes, the proposed rule would increase the salary threshold for the executive, administrative and professional exemptions from $455 per week ($23,660 per year) to a 2016 level of $970 per week ($50,440 per year). The threshold for highly compensated employees would also increase from $100,000 per year to $122,148 per year. Both thresholds would be adjusted annually based on one of two proposed methods. Although WHD did not propose any changes to the duties tests, it strongly indicated consideration of changes and requested comments on possible changes.
Siding with Íæż½ã½ã of America, the Íæż½ã½ã of Colorado and the Colorado Contractor’s Association, the Colorado Supreme Court has unanimously held that a state law insulating Colorado residents from prosecution for making medical use of marijuana does not require the state’s employers to tolerate the same or apparently any other use of the drug. The decision extends well beyond employees who use marijuana on the job, or show up under the influence of it. In fact, the case involved an employee who used marijuana only at home and during non-working hours.
The federal agencies tasked with implementing the Íæż½ã½ã-backed Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014 issued proposed final regulations this week that will govern the implementation of the new law. The regulations from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and Internal Revenue Service address the suspension of benefits and the partitioning of plans under the Act. View the PBGC press release,final rule and the suspension of benefits guidance from IRS.
Íæż½ã½ã joined other groups this week in commenting on draft regulations of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act . The regulations will largely dictate how the act is implemented and ultimately its effectiveness on training skilled construction workers. Íæż½ã½ã supported passage of the bill last year as it streamlines the workforce development system, gives states greater flexibility to address worker shortages and strengthens employer engagement.
Íæż½ã½ã joined other groups this week in commenting on draft regulations of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act . The regulations will largely dictate how the act is implemented and ultimately its effectiveness on training skilled construction workers. Íæż½ã½ã supported passage of the bill last year as it streamlines the workforce development system, gives states greater flexibility to address worker shortages and strengthens employer engagement.
Íæż½ã½ã CEO Stephen Sandherr joined with Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer and other association leaders during a June 17 media event to call on Congress to raise the highway user fee to pay for a new long-term surface transportation bill.
Legislation allowing veterans to use their education benefits from the GI bill for enrollment in Department of Labor-approved pre-apprenticeship programs was introduced today. The Veterans’ Entry Apprenticeship Act is a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Representatives Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) and Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii). Íæż½ã½ã supports the legislation, along with several other construction and national veterans’ organizations.