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FLSA

How should we pay if our time clock breaks?

07/26/2011
Q. Because of a time-clock malfunction, we couldn’t determine how much pay we owed some employees. What is our obligation to pay employees if we can’t calculate the exact number of hours worked? Is there any penalty for the delayed payment?

FLSA beef stirs up lawsuit against Panda Express

07/26/2011
The Chinese fast-food chain Panda Express faces a national overtime lawsuit after a federal district court judge in New York ruled the case could move forward as a class action.

4 OT rules that put a stop to off-the-clock work

07/25/2011
Hourly employees know that if they work overtime, their employer must pay them for the extra hours. That’s true, but it doesn’t mean they can work OT whenever they feel like it. Here’s how to end unauthorized overtime

Technology can transform exempt status

07/25/2011
As work becomes more technologically driven, employees are seeing their job responsibilities change. Be aware that technological advancements in a job can also change an em­­ployee’s status under the Fair Labor Standards Act from an exempt to a nonexempt worker—or vice versa.

Can we offer pizza instead of pay when employees must work through lunch?

07/19/2011
Q. Occasionally, when we receive a big order, our nonexempt employees are required to work through their lunch break. Although we do not pay them overtime for this work, we buy pizzas and sodas for all the affected workers. Is this lawful?

State pay law now covers out-of-state employees working in California

07/19/2011

A unanimous California Supreme Court has ruled that California-based employers must pay out-of-state resident employees based on the provisions of the California Labor Code, even if those employees only visit the state on a limited, temporary basis. The decision is worrisome for multi­state employers because it may open the door for more employee lawsuits seeking the generous protections offered by California law.

Classifying employees? Examine specific tasks

07/19/2011

Courts are becoming more reluctant to authorize massive class-action lawsuits. Example: A federal court has ruled that assistant restaurant managers who believe they were misclassified must bring individual lawsuits. They can’t proceed as a class. The practical impact: Most likely, lower damages.

New FLSA regs mean it’s time to review wage-and-hour practices

07/13/2011

New regulations implementing the FLSA are now in effect, and they mark a significant change in federal wage-and-hour rules—and how the DOL enforces them. The new regulations were created to make FLSA regulations consistent with changes driven by other applicable federal laws. Be mindful of these new regulations and the additional burdens they impose.

Milton car dealership settles wage-and-hour dispute

07/13/2011
Milton-based McKenzie Buick GMC has settled a dispute over minimum wage, overtime pay and tracking of employees’ hours worked. An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division revealed the dealership wasn’t maintaining accurate records of the hours many of its salespeople worked.

Do oral complaints carry the same weight as written complaints in retaliation cases?

07/13/2011
Q. We have an employee who has made several complaints about his wages while talking to his manager during informal meetings. Are these oral complaints sufficient to trigger the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) anti-retaliation provision?