Can an employer pay an employee in rent credits versus money? On August 11, 2021, the Minnesota Supreme Court held that rent credits are “wages” (not improper deductions) under the Minnesota Fair Labor Standards Act (MFLSA). In Hagen v. Steven Scott Management, Inc., the employee was an on-site property caretaker. She received rent credits
Employers May Need to Provide Paid Time Off for Military Leave Under USERRA
I think I’m in movie mode; last week I was blogging Back to the Future, this week I’m channeling my inner Top Gun. In any event, on to the less exciting legal mumbo jumbo. With remote work and expanding businesses, many more employers have employees throughout the U.S., some of which may be military members
Duluth’s Amended Sick & Safe Time Ordinance Takes Effect August 19, 2021
Duluth employers take note – the Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) Ordinance has been amended, and the revisions take effect August 19, 2021. What’s new, you ask? Here’s the good stuff:
- ESST may be used for “Lost work hours due to closure of employee’s place of employment for public health reasons” (read: COVID).
DOL Settles Another Home Healthcare Company Overtime Violation for Only Paying Straight Time
On August 5, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced it has settled yet another matter whereby a Golden Valley, MN home healthcare business paid only straight time to its employees regardless of how many hours they worked. In this case it was related to skilled nursing, private duty, personal aide and therapy services. In
Another DOL 180… Who is a Joint Employer Now?
Great Scott! In another Department of Labor (DOL) reversal of its own rulemaking during the Trump Administration, the Final Rule, Joint Employer Status Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, which had gone into effect (and I wrote about here) March 16, 2020, has been rescinded. Effective September 28, 2021 [UPDATE: October 5,
Will the $15/hr. Minimum Wage Increase for Federal Contractors Apply to Your Business?
If you’re a federal contractor, you’ve probably seen the headlines – on July 22, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking outlining how it wants to enforce Executive Order 14026, Increasing the Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors. But what exactly does this mean? President Biden tasked the
Fun Fact Friday: Minnesota’s Minimum Wage Is 1 of 4 Based on Business Receipts
I know, it’s been awhile since I’ve done one of these. I’m thinking of trying to keep this going. Or maybe starting a “Why Not Wednesday” (telling stories of what NOT to do and why)! Here’s a fun fact for your Friday…
Minnesota’s 2021 minimum wage for large employers (gross annual revenue greater than $500,000)
Nursing Mothers Soon Entitled to PAID Time to Express Breast Milk & Pregnancy Accommodations
Effective January 1, 2022, Minnesota employers with more than 15 employees will be required to provide PAID “reasonable break times each day” for a new mother (child less than 12 months old) to express breast milk. The Minnesota Women’s Economic Security Act (WESA) currently requires unpaid breaks. It also currently has no age limit, though
DOL Fines Another Home Healthcare Company for Overtime Violations
On July 1, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued yet another press release regarding recovery (this time $1.5 million) of back wages for 242 home healthcare workers (this is not a MN employer, but this is a nationwide DOL effort). In this instance, according to the DOL, the employer paid straight-time wages for
Minnesota District Court Holds Indian Tribe Immune from Suit under FLSA – Equal Pay Act
Back in 2016, one of the first posts I wrote on this blog concerned whether the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) applied to Native American tribes. My conclusion was that there was currently no clear answer in Minnesota. However, we were recently given a bit more clarity. On June 28, 2021, the federal District Court