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Wages & Hours

Congress to consider paid leave

03/02/2026
Will this be the year that a federal law will require employers to provide some form of paid leave for workers? It’s too early to tell for certain, but there’s an increasing chance it might happen during the off-year midterm elections as pressure mounts on so-called affordability issues.

DOL announces proposed final independent contractor rule

03/02/2026
To make classification easier and better understood by businesses and the workers they seek to employ or contract with, the proposed rule uses a single definition of who is an employee under other federal laws.

Confused by fair workweek and scheduling laws? You’re not alone

02/23/2026
States like Oregon and New York, and major cities across the country, have stepped in, telling employers that workers are entitled to predictable schedules so they can plan for child care, second jobs, education and time away. While that’s great for workers, the patchwork of laws and rules can complicate management, especially for employers with operations across multiple jurisdictions.

People metrics outlast DEI in executive pay design

02/09/2026
A new global study finds that while environmental, social and governance language and priorities keep shifting, human capital remains the most common non-financial factor tied to executive pay, even as DEI measures lose ground in the U.S.

Salary budgets stabilize, pushing HR toward strategic pay decisions

02/02/2026
Salary budgets may no longer be climbing, but they are far from operating on autopilot. New survey data shows employers entering 2026 with greater confidence in their pay planning, shifting away from reactive increases and toward more deliberate compensation strategies focused on performance, retention and internal equity.

Minimum wage hikes are here

01/05/2026
While the federal minimum wage has not risen since being set at $7.25 per hour in 2009, many state and local governments have implemented increases to keep up with rising costs. Here are some of the increases effective Jan. 1.

Time to announce your 2026 holiday schedule to employees

12/15/2025
Make it a policy to post your company’s holiday schedule every year. You should also clearly state your policy on paid versus unpaid holidays in your handbook.

Worried about possible pay inequity? Here’s what to do

12/08/2025
Employers who want to fix the problem may choose to look for inequity and then equalize pay. There is a right way and a wrong way to do this. Here are the crucial steps.

Starbucks to pay $38.9 million for NYC labor violations

12/08/2025
In a case that illustrates how much even minor wage-and-hour violations can rack up huge bills, Starbucks cafés in New York City will pay over $38.9 million to workers shorted on pay or otherwise harmed by poor wage-and-hour practices.

Share facilities and employees? DOL opinion says add hours together

10/20/2025
Ordinarily, working a second job for a separate employer doesn’t trigger overtime based on the total hours worked for both employers. But if the employers are closely affiliated, they may be joint employers.