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FLSA

Rein in Rogue ‘Early-Clockers’

09/01/2006

Q. We’ve repeatedly warned a part-time employee about clocking in earlier than he’s supposed to, sometimes more than an hour early. We know that we have to pay him for any hours worked, but what can we legally do to get him to work only the hours set for his position? —L.K., Missouri

Don’t dock exempt workers’ pay for lost equipment

08/01/2006

While you can set a policy that deducts from nonexempt employees’ wages if they damage or lose company equipment, don’t extend that policy to exempt employees or you’ll risk their exemption status …

Online tool helps workers earn back wages

08/01/2006

The Labor Department’s Wage & Hour Division launched a new Back Wage Employee Locator online tool to help people determine if they’re owed back wages as the result of an investigation …

Texas court: Prisoners aren’t entitled to the minimum wage

08/01/2006

Compelling a prisoner to work without pay is not illegal, a federal court has ruled in considering a Texas inmate’s request. The prisoner worked in the prison laundry and claimed he should be paid at least the federal minimum wage …

Labor Dept. Tightens Noose on Donning-and-Doffing Cases

07/01/2006

A key 2005 U.S. Supreme Court decision made clear that manufacturers must pay workers for time spent changing in and out of safety gear, plus the time they spend walking between changing rooms and workstations. Now, the Labor Department is moving to make sure employers are complying …

Use lots of independent contractors? Heed new legal risks

07/01/2006

Same work, fewer expenses and less hassle. That’s the perceived advantage of using independent contractors. And the mantra has its appeal. But many employers have opted for freelancers only to find a new set of problems: lack of control, unreliable workers and, in some cases, litigation …

A Costly Lesson in Allowing Off-the-Clock Work

06/01/2006

Make sure supervisors understand what counts as "paid time" and remind them that they should not encourage employees to work off the clock. Example of the risk: Compass Bank of Birmingham, Ala., recently shelled out more than $1 million in unpaid overtime to 2,961 employees …

Professional exemption limited when applied to medical staff

06/01/2006

Don’t assume that medical employees with advanced training and licenses meet the FLSA’s "learned profession" exemption, which allows employers to pay lawyers and doctors by the hour and still not pay them …

Paying for driving time depends on departure point

06/01/2006

Q. We have a sports reporter (an hourly employee) who is being sent to cover a state tournament. Should we pay for the time it takes her to drive to the event and back? —D.L., Washington

Overtime court battles on the rise and expected to continue

04/01/2006

Rather than calming the turbulent legal waters, the revamping of the federal overtime laws in 2004 has churned up even more disputes and lawsuits …