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Unemployment Rate Rose to 5.7% in July
The unemployment rate rose to 5.7 percent, and nonfarm payroll employment continued to trend down in July (-51,000), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported Friday....
IRS Issues Guidance on Payments to Deceased Employees
The IRS recently issued guidance for reporting wages paid in 2008 (including accrued wages and vacation pay) on behalf of deceased employees. Although state law generally controls who receives the...
US Department of Labor Issues Opinion Letter on Minimum Wage, Pay Periods
The US Department of Labor recently issued Administrator signed Opinion Letter FLSA2008-5. Although Opinion Letters only apply to the exact set of facts and circumstances presented in each case,...
Question of the Week: Does Massachusetts Have Laws Regarding Employees and Independent Contractors?
This week’s question comes from Louisa, an HR manager: We have individuals who perform services for us. Does Massachusetts have any laws to determine if these individuals are our employees or...
US Department of Labor Issues Opinion Letter on Uniforms, Payroll Deductions
The US Department of Labor recently issued Administrator signed Opinion Letter FLSA2008-4. Although Opinion Letters only apply to the exact set of facts and circumstances presented in each case,...
Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report Update for July 26, 2008
According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending July 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 448,000, an increase of 44,000 from the previous week's revised...
Tip of the Week: Get HR Answers Quickly
Do you have human resource questions and don’t know where to find the answers? Visit your one-stop resource for HR-related workplace information: the Vision Payroll Human Resources Support Center....
New York Company Must Pay $1.23 Million in Overtime and Damages
States continued their crackdown on employers with overtime violations as New York announced a $1.23 million settlement with Finkelstein Morgan LLC and J. Siebold Construction Corporation...
Wage Garnishments Affected by Increase in Federal Minimum Wage
A wage garnishment is when an employer, generally as a result of a court order, withholds an amount from an employee’s earnings in payment of a debt. Restrictions on wage garnishments are defined in...
Starbucks Barista Responsible for Laundering Own Aprons
An employee required to launder his work aprons by Starbucks Corporation (“Starbucks”) was not entitled to compensation under California law (Douglas O’Connor v. Starbucks Corporation, ND Cal, C...
