I have spent plenty of time in the quaint small town of Plainview, Minnesota (where the City snowplow is a tractor and dump truck team), and so it’s fun to write about this one, but I feel for the City (which voted to sell the liquor store in August 2020 while this appeal was pending).
DOL Postpones Final Rule Regarding New Economic Reality Test for Independent Contractors
*UPDATE – THE FINAL RULE HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN MAY 6, 2021.
Regardless of whether you call it a teeter totter or seesaw, the DOL continues its ups and downs with its interpretations of important laws. You may recall my January 7, 2021 post reminding all y’all of the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) final rule
DOL Withdraws Several Opinion Letters Issued Under Trump Administration
I know you’re thinking, what possibly can a turtle hiding in his shell have to do with wage and hour law?! Since the Biden Administration has begun, several Department of Labor (DOL) opinion letters have been withdrawn (get it yet?) by the DOL (and are no longer assessable). In this instance, they may no
DOL: All Journalists May Qualify for FLSA Creative Professional Exemption from Overtime
In Opinion Letter FLSA2021-7, the second of four opinion letters released today, the U.S. Department of Labor clarified that journalists – no matter whether they work for a major newspaper or small-town community paper – may qualify for the creative professional exemption. In order to qualify, journalists must have a primary duty that requires,
DOL: Temporary Staffing Firms May Qualify for Retail or Service Establishment FLSA Overtime Exemption
Here’s one I didn’t see coming – the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued Opinion Letter FLSA2021-6 today, along with three others (see my other blog posts), which concluded that staffing firms that recruit, hire, and place employees on temporary assignments with clients may qualify as a “retail or service establishment” for purposes of an
DOL Opinion Letter Issued Regarding Administrative Exemption for Account Managers of Life Science Product Manufacturer
On January 8, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued opinion letter FLSA2021-1. Spoiler alert – the DOL determined that account managers at a life science products manufacturer were properly classified as exempt from overtime based on the administrative exemption. These employees have at least a bachelor’s degree in a life science (or
End of a COVID Delay: EEOC to Start Collecting 2019 and 2020 EEO-1 Component 1 Data in April 2021
The EEOC announced today that it will start collecting 2019 and 2020 EEO-1 Component 1 Data (employment data categorized by race/ethnicity, gender and job category) for private employers beginning in April 2021. Note, this still does not include the controversial Component 2 Data (compensation data). While 2019’s data would have normally been due last year,
DOL Issues Final Rule Regarding Employee or Independent Contractor Analysis – Suggests Approval of Paying Benefits to Independent Contractors
*UPDATE – THE FINAL RULE HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN MAY 6, 2021.
As I blogged about a few months ago, on September 22, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a proposed rule simplifying the test to determine whether a worker is considered an “employee” under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) or an
Minnesota High School Students Eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (Unemployment)
Effective today, December 11, 2020, the State of Minnesota will start processing and allowing unemployment compensation applications from high school students. While state law has not allowed high school students unemployment compensation since 1998, the Minnesota Court of Appeals recently held that they are eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). This is federal monies as
How to Calculate the Regular Rate for an Employee Paid on a Piece-Rate Basis
On November 30, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued Opinion Letter FLSA2020-17, concerning how to calculate the regular rate of an employee paid on a piece-rate basis. In this situation, the employees are warehouse unloaders, and are paid based on the number and types of trucks they unload. Some of them have