2018 Employment Law Trends By Calvin Gower, Marketing Coordinator, Trüpp. The last couple of years have given rise to clear trends in employment law. As legislation at the federal level has remained stagnant, states and municipalities have taken matters into their own hands to push fair employment legislation forward. While there are many developments occurring […]
Welcome to the Trüpp Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. ACA’s affordability threshold set to rise in 2019 The affordability threshold for 2019 has been increased to 9.86, which is a slight increase from the 2018 threshold of 9.56 percent. In short, this means that employers […]
Welcome to the Trüpp Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. IRS raises HSA contributions for 2019 The IRS has announced its yearly revision to the benefit limits for defined benefits plans. The HSA contribution limit is now set to increase from $3,450 to $3,500 in 2019, […]
Welcome to the Trüpp Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. ACA reporting for those who missed the deadline ACA forms were due to the IRS electronically by early April making those who failed to meet the deadline vulnerable to substantial financial penalties. For employers that missed […]
Welcome to the Trüpp Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. Paid-leave tax credit that could apply to certain employers Under the new section of the Internal Revenue Code, employers that voluntarily offer qualifying employees up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave may claim […]
Welcome to the Trüpp Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. Increase of Form I-9 worksite enforcement The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues its practice of increasing Form I-9 audits, conducting more workplace raids, and promoting involvement in the government’s voluntary compliance program. Learn More >> […]
Welcome to the Trüpp Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. Expected increase of Form I-9 worksite enforcement The current administration has indicated that the number of Form I-9 employment eligibility verification audits will significantly increase over the course of the next year. All employers are subject […]
Welcome to the Trüpp Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. DOL delays parts of fiduciary rule The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has extended the effective date for “prohibited transaction exemptions” to the retirement plan fiduciary rule to July 1, 2019. The exemptions are related to […]
What you need to know about the OSHA injury reporting deadline By Calvin Gower, Marketing Coordinator, Trüpp. The deadline for the OSHA 2016 injury reporting has been extended. See the list below for 5 key pieces of info you need to know about the deadline. The deadline for submission is December 15th. Applies to establishments […]
Welcome to the Trüpp Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. Immigration official announces quadrupled employer compliance audits It’s expected that the rate of immigration compliance audits and investigations will quadruple in the months to come. To avoid potential fines, all employers will need to make sure […]
I-9 checklist By Christine Thelen, Director of HR Services, Trüpp. Would you be shocked if I told you that immigration is currently a hot button issue? If you’ve had any contact with the outside world recently, your answer is sure to be a resounding no! Unfortunately, this is not just a political debate that can be […]
Welcome to the Trüpp Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. Court ruling highlights FMLA retaliation and age discrimination An engineer at Verizon recently presented proof of FMLA retaliation and age discrimination in her firing. The case brought up the point that employers must monitor their supervisors […]
Welcome to the Trüpp Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. The unwinding of DACA and the effect on employers With the DACA expiration date on the horizon, employers may need to discharge workers unless they’ve found another way to obtain work authorization. This will all depend […]
Welcome to the Trüpp Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. State law trends to watch States and cities continue to go above and beyond federal employment law requirements; here are some of the important trends and states to keep an eye on. Learn More >> Oregon […]
By Calvin Gower, Marketing Coordinator, Trüpp. Oregon recently passed a law that clears up some confusion in the daily overtime rule. The update addresses non-union employees working in mills, factories, and manufacturing establishments. The main clarification to come out of this revision is that employees who are entitled to both daily and weekly overtime should […]
By Calvin Gower, Marketing Coordinator, Trüpp. Several amendments to Oregon’s Paid Sick Leave law were enacted on July 1, 2017 and will take effect on January 1, 2018. Recently signed by Governor Kate Brown, the bill makes some clarifications and modifications to the current law which took effect the same time last year. Changes included […]
Welcome to the Trüpp Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. DOL issues RFI on overtime rule The Department of Labor (DOL) has suggested several alternatives to the original overtime rule changes in a recent request for information (RFI) which includes multiple salary level exemptions that are […]
By Kate Reichert, HR Business Partner, Trüpp. Imagine a world without salary negotiations As I sit in a conference room with my team discussing the implications of the new Pay Equity Act that was recently signed into law in the state of Oregon by Governor Kate Brown, it began to occur to me just how […]
By Calvin Gower, Marketing Coordinator, Trüpp. Starting July 1, 2018, many part-time employees won’t have to play the guessing game with their schedules any longer. The new predictive scheduling law, expected to be signed by Oregon Governor, Kate Brown, will be establishing requirements on large employers (500 or more employees worldwide) for the retail trade, […]
Welcome to the Trüpp Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. Oregon pay equity bill passes The Oregon Equal Pay Act of 2017 (House Bill 2005) has officially passed. This marks the latest legal update related to the pay equity law trend, with the purpose of reducing […]
By Calvin Gower, Marketing Coordinator, Trüpp. The Oregon Equal Pay Act of 2017 (House Bill 2005) has officially been signed into law with the purpose of reducing unfair pay differences and expanding protections for employees susceptible to discriminatory pay practices. Most provisions will not go into effect until January 1, 2019 to give employers time […]
Welcome to the Trüpp Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. IRS establishes 2018 HSA contribution limits The annual contribution to health savings accounts (HSAs) will rise $50 for self-only coverage and $150 for family coverage. Learn More >> Comp time bill advances to senate The U.S. […]
By Calvin Gower, Marketing Coordinator, Trüpp. Whether it should be legal to ask job applicants about their salary history remains a hot topic of debate in today’s labor market. Since we posted our article, Should it be illegal to ask about an applicant’s salary history, which provides details about proposed pay equity laws and their […]
By Wayne Smith, Director of Marketing, Trüpp. Remember when employment law was easy? OK, so maybe it was never easy, per se, but at least you could build out a set of policies, treat your employees well, avoid a few common pitfalls, and you were good to focus on growing your business. Today, employers are […]
Welcome to the Trüpp Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. Risks of asking applicants for W-2 Forms Employment attorneys caution against employers asking job applicants for a copy of their W-2 form to verify employment and compensation. While this practice may seem practical in some situations, […]
By Christine Thelen, Manager, HR Services, Trupp HR. Most businesses recognize the value of employee handbooks for establishing company policies, procedures, and expectations for professional conduct. But it is easy to lose sight of just how quickly the content becomes outdated.
Welcome to the Trüpp Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law.
By Christine Thelen, Director of HR Services, Trüpp. A good employee handbook will protect and serve The value of a well-drafted employee handbook is often overlooked. In truth, they are an invaluable tool for creating a strong work environment and protecting an employer. Here are just a few ways a handbook adds value for an employer:
The USCIS has published the updated Handbook for Employers: Guidance for Completing Form I-9. This Handbook provides guidance for completing the new Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verifications.
Oregon legislators are considering a predictive scheduling law that would require employers to pay employees for up to four hours of unworked time if their shift is cancelled or shortened. This proposed law follows Seattle’s Secure Scheduling ordinance and is also similar to the ordinances and laws that San Francisco and New York have in […]
Welcome to the Trüpp Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law.
Welcome to the Trüpp Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. DOL requests extension on overtime rule appeal The Department of Labor has asked for an extension of time to allow “incoming leadership personnel adequate time to consider the issues”, as Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Labor […]
As part of its’ series of “resource” documents, the EEOC has recently released guidance for medical conditions and work restrictions of employees. This latest piece is titled “Depression, PTSD, and Other Mental Health Conditions in the Workplace: Your Legal Rights.” The intention of this document is to provide a related platform of guidance under the […]
States and localities across the country are continuing to push forward with measures aimed at protecting workers. As more and more local and state sick-leave and ban-the-box regulations go into effect, states and municipalities are now starting to focus on wage equality, stricter controls for employee scheduling, independent contractor protections, and paid parental leave. Wage […]
Welcome to the Trupp HR Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. Federal judge puts temporary injunction on overtime rule With just 10 days left before the implementation of the new overtime rule, a federal judge in Texas puts it on hold. This surprising decision is applicable […]
Election Day has come and gone bringing several newly passed state ballot measures that will have a direct impact on the workplace. Most notably, voters continue to favor the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana, the increase of minimum-wage levels, and support for paid sick leave. Marijuana Legalization In many states, attitudes seem to be […]
By Christine Thelen, Director of HR Services, Trupp HR. With 10 days left before the December 1 implementation deadline, a federal judge unexpectedly placed a hold on the new overtime rule. You’ve been granted a reprieve A Texas federal court issued a temporary injunction delaying the implementation of the new FLSA regulations that raise the salary […]
The new Form I-9 has been released by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as of November 14, 2016 and will be valid through August 31, 2019. Use of the new form will be required starting January 21, 2017. Once the January deadline has passed, previous versions will be invalid for new hires, re-hires, […]
By Jean Roque, President, Trupp HR. Many think so. On September 14, 2016—just over a month after Massachusetts passed an equal-pay law that prohibits employers from asking about salary histories during the job interview process—the Pay Equity for All Act of 2016 has been proposed. This bill would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to make […]
Welcome to the Trupp HR Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. FLSA proposals arise to phase in overtime rule A number of delay or phase-in proposals for the overtime rule have gained momentum in Congress. Many believe that the phase-in bills’ fate may depend on the […]
Welcome to the Trupp HR Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. Current Form I-9 will expire Jan. 21, 2017 The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that the new version of the Form 1-9 will become available by November 22, 2016. The changes to […]
With the presidential race heating up, the focus of each candidate on workplace priorities are in the spotlight. Hillary Clinton has made a number of promises regarding employment law during her campaign, with more of a focus on keeping workplace policy moving in the same direction. On the other hand, Trump has taken positions on […]
Welcome to the Trupp HR Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. California proposes a more in depth version of the “ban-the-box” measure California Fair Employment and Housing Council (FEHC) proposes regulations that would prohibit employers from using criminal background reports if members of a particular race […]
Welcome to the Trupp HR Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. Classifying employees as exempt vs. non-exempt more complicated than most realize Even with the vast amount of news coverage of the new FLSA rules, overtime exemptions are still broadly misunderstood. When it comes to classifying workers as exempt, […]
Employers with individuals who work in multiple geographic regions in Oregon must follow a certain set of rules to evaluate which minimum wage rates should be applied. This analysis must be conducted for each pay period. If an employee performs over 50% of their work during a pay period at a fixed business location in […]
Oregon transient lodging tax will temporarily increase from 1% to 1.8% beginning July 1, 2016. This temporary lodging tax has been designed to create a $25 million-subsidy, earmarked for the 2021 World Track and Field Championships in Eugene. The tax will take a small drop to 1.5% in four years. This lodging tax increase comes on the heels […]
Welcome to the Trupp HR Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. Laying off employees for inability to speak English may be discriminatory While it is recognized by the courts that the ability to speak English can be a justifiable job requirement, employers must be careful when […]
Oregon’s minimum wage increase for this year will go into effect July 1, 2016. All employers will need to comply with the new wage rates and make sure to have the updated poster up in a conspicuous location. As most are already aware, Oregon is the first state to introduce a minimum wage increase unlike […]
By Jean Roque, President, Trupp HR. As most employers are aware, the final regulations regarding overtime exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) have been released by the Department of Labor (DOL). The bottom line of the new ruling is that the minimum salary requirement for non-exempt status has been raised significantly–from $23,660 to $47,476 and […]
Welcome to the Trupp HR Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. Final rule released regarding FLSA overtime regulations With the new overtime rule coming into effect, there are major changes for employers to prepare for. Learn More >> 2017 HSA contribution limits have been set The IRS has provided the updated […]
By Christine Thelen, Director of HR Services, Trupp HR. The long awaited final regulations regarding overtime exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) have been released by the Department of Labor (DOL). As expected, the biggest change is an increase to the salary threshold for exempt employees. Exempt employees must earn at least $47,476 per year […]
By Christine Thelen, Director of HR Services, Trupp HR. The U.S. DOL’s final rules amending the overtime provisions of the FLSA are expected to be published any day now. While we don’t know exactly what will be included in the final rules, it is likely they will be similar to the proposed rule issued for public […]
Welcome to the Trupp HR Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. Potential impacts of proposed updates to overtime rule Critics of the proposed changes to the overtime regulation speculate that employers may look to reduce base salaries, reduce overall compensation, and replace current workers with machines or higher-skilled workers. […]
Welcome to the Trupp HR Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. NLRB supports employee rights to record conversations The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has actively prohibited employers from enforcing no-recording policies, causing businesses to look for specific situations where this may be allowed. Learn More […]
The State of Oregon will be introducing a minimum wage increase unlike any other state, beginning July 1, 2016. This multi-tiered system will be divided into three geographical regions with corresponding wage rates and increase schedules.This involves an overall state increase, accompanied by an increase for the Portland Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) tier and two […]
Welcome to the Trupp HR Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. Proposed overtime rule release date still up in the air The release date of the Department of Labor’s proposed overtime rule remains uncertain; however, employers should consider how they might accommodate the salary threshold increase since there […]
Welcome to the Trupp HR Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. Proposed rule increases job flexibility for foreign workers A new proposed rule would protect workers with green card petitions through job changes, establish a longer grace period for those who lost jobs, clarify H-1B status […]
By Jean Roque, President, Trupp HR. There are a number of changes anticipated or scheduled to take place in 2016 which will impact employers both small and large. Employers need to monitor changes at local, state, and federal levels that will impact their organization in the coming year. Whether preparing for pending regulations or electing to […]
Welcome to the Trupp HR Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. Ban-the-box mandate limited in reach Questions about criminal history has been banned for federal job application forms, however, the use of such questions has not been banned for federal contractors. Learn More >> Update on […]
Welcome to the Trupp HR Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. FMLA case exposes risk of changes in layoff decisions A recent FMLA case addresses an employee who was not restored to her former position upon return from pregnancy leave and later on terminated. This ruling sheds some light on […]
Welcome to the Trupp HR Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed of critical employment legislation and case law. State laws that ban access to employees’ social media accounts Employers should be aware of the limits on their ability to monitor employees. In addition to regulation under federal law, there are several states […]
Welcome to the Trupp HR Legal Corner designed to keep business leaders informed about critical employment legislation and case law. DOL announces overtime expansion proposal The long awaited proposal to update regulations on exempt executive, administrative, professional, and certain other employees has been released be the Department of Labor (DOL). This proposal covers minimum wage and overtime […]
By Christine Thelen, Manager, HR Services, Trupp HR. Continued developments in federal state and local employment laws can quickly cause your recruiting and hiring practices, as well as job applications and other associated documents, to become out of date without your even being aware of it. These legacy documents and practices can put your organization […]
Oregon has passed a new law that prohibits most private employers from considering a job applicant’s conviction history prior to conducting an initial job interview. The goal of the law is to allow those with past convictions a chance to explain their situation rather than be automatically removed from consideration for a job. Under the […]
On June 12, 2015, Oregon passed legislation that requires the majority of employers with 10 or more employees to give employees up to 40 hours a year of paid sick leave. The new sick leave law applies to full-time and part-time hourly, salaried, commissioned and piece rate employees, and home care employees who receive payment […]
The Department of Labor (DOL) has released its long awaited proposal to update regulations exempting executive, administrative, professional, and certain other employees from minimum wage and overtime requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The FSLA requires employees be paid time and a half for hours worked over 40 in a week, unless an […]
