The distinction between an employee and an independent contractor has far-reaching implications, particularly when it comes to safeguarding workers' rights. Proper classification ensures that individuals receive the benefits and protections they deserve in their professional roles. However, when these lines are blurred, workers may face financial challenges, diminished job security, and...
Mandatory overtime for nurses often sparks debate concerning work-life balance and patient care quality. States across the country have approached this issue with varied legislation, setting boundaries to protect nurses from excessive work hours. While some have enacted strict limits, others offer more flexibility, leaving many in the nursing field to...
California's technology sector is bracing for a significant shift as the state announces a major increase in the compensation rate required for the computer professional exemption from overtime. Starting January 1, 2024, the threshold for exempting certain computer software employees from overtime will rise to $115,763.35 annually. This adjustment reflects...
On August 30, 2023, the U.S. government introduced a transformative change to labor laws concerning overtime pay. The proposed rule aims to expand the eligibility criteria, making millions more white-collar workers qualify for overtime compensation. Specifically, employers will need to pay overtime to salaried white-collar employees earning less than $55,000 a year....
Wage theft is a real and persistent problem throughout the United States, robbing individuals and their families of fair pay for the work they’ve done. A recent study put this in perspective by assigning a dollar value to this theft: $50 billion per year. And while that number is staggering, it’s probably...
Suing employers for unpaid overtime sends a strong message that violations of wage and hour laws will not be tolerated. But when numerous employees band together they can wield power in an environment in which workers are often at a marked disadvantage. A judge recently upheld the right of employees to join...
Misclassifying employees as independent contractors is a common way that employers attempt to circumvent the nation’s wage and hour laws. This practice caught up with a legal services company when current and former intake specialists filed a lawsuit seeking unpaid overtime. The case illustrates how abuse of the independent contracting...
Does the time it takes for a computer to start up count towards your work hours? According to the Ninth Circuit, it does. And while this may not seem like a great amount of time, the minutes required to boot up a computer can add up to significant pay. There may be...
More than $1.3 million in wages and penalties was recently collected on behalf of workers who were employed on a public works project. The case involved what are known as prevailing wages, a term that is relevant when discussing pay on government jobs. Whether you work for a private employer or a...
Once considered a staple of the American workforce, time and a half is under constant attack from employers who are determined to find ways around the law. Knowing how time and a half (overtime) pay should work is the responsibility of every employee. But protecting the right to time and a half...
