Wage and Hour Claims
New Year will usher in a pay raise for many low wage earners
For many minimum wage earners, January 1, 2018 will mean higher pay. 18 states and numerous localities are raising their minimum wage for the new year. Unfortunately, despite efforts to increase the federal minimum wage, legislators have still kept it at a low $7.25 an hour. The states expected to raise minimum wage include: Alaska,…
Read MoreFLSA Violations More Frequent in Certain Industries
A recent survey found that nearly all investigated garment factories in the United States committed wage and hour violations. A staggering 94% of all factories reviewed were found in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The FLSA provides that all workers be paid at least the federal minimum wage ($7.25/hour) and that non-exempt…
Read MoreCan year-end bonuses replace overtime pay?
With the holidays upon us, many of Georgia’s workers have received or will be receiving end of the year bonuses. In most cases this is cause to celebrate. However, what if that “bonus” is paid but overtime hours earned are not? Can bonuses be paid in place of overtime compensation? In general – bonuses and…
Read MoreDepartment of Labor Proposes Changes to Tip Pool Rules
The Department of Labor (DOL) has just announced that it is going to revisits tip pools. Currently, tip pools are highly regulated with the requirement that only those workers who typically earn tips are able to participate in the pool. This typically excludes managers, but also hourly cooks and dishwashers – “back of the house”…
Read MoreCan an hourly employee legally be denied overtime pay?
Federal wage and hour law, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), provides that non-exempt workers are entitled to receive overtime pay at a rate of one and one-half times their standard rate of pay for all time spent working in excess of 40 hours in any one work week. This simple statement raises several questions.…
Read MoreWhat Constitutes a “Living Wage” in Georgia?
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) provides that workers must be paid at least minimum wage and that non-exempt workers receive overtime pay at a rate of one and one-half times their standard rate of pay for all time worked in excess of 40 hours in any workweek. The current federal minimum wage is $7.25/hour.…
Read MoreWhat labor laws apply if you’re a seasonal employee?
With the holiday season nearly upon us, many retailers and other businesses are gearing up for the rush by hiring seasonal employees. Many times, these are temporary positions, and employers/employees may not be aware of the various wage and hour claims that may arise. For example, it’s important to ensure your classification is correct, whether…
Read MoreFLSA Considerations for Seasonal Time Changes
Many people have mixed feelings about the end of Daylight Savings Time. You may relish the extra hour of sleep, or find it easier to get up for work on Monday, or you may not like it getting darker earlier in the day. But, most people haven’t thought how it may impact your pay from…
Read MoreRemote workers may be entitled to overtime pay
With the increased use of laptops, cell phones and technological advances, more and more workers are working remotely. This may be a formalized agreement or simply a logical extension of the day (catching up on email from home, or while on the train). Much research has shown that enabling remote work has positive benefits – saving employers…
Read MoreTGI Fridays agrees to settle one of the nation’s largest wage and hour lawsuits
Reports indicate that the restaurant chain, TGI Fridays has agreed to settle a wage and hour class action suit for $19.1 million. The lawsuit asserts that the chain underpaid many of its employees in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for many years. Included in the settlement are bussers, wait staff, runners and…
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