Legal

Jan
05
2016

A Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) is an identification number used by the IRS in the administration of tax laws. It is issued either by the SSA or by the IRS. A Social Security number (SSN) is issued by the SSA...

Dec
16
2015

In August, the National Labor Relations Board (NRLB) changed decades of policy for the franchising industry with their new “joint-employer standard” that could hurt restaurants, retailers, manufacturers, construction firms, hotels, cleaning services, staffing agencies and more. Many of those impacted...

Oct
15
2015

A client asked me an interesting question… Do businesses have to provide restroom facilities, namely toilets, for their employees? The answer is an unequivocal “yes.” The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has clear regulations for the required number of...

Sep
08
2015

U.S. law requires companies to employ only individuals who may legally work in this country. This means either U.S. citizens or non-citizens who have the appropriate authorization. As a means to determine the eligibility of employees to work in the...

Aug
26
2015

A WOW, as defined by the Department of Labor (DOL), is a “worker owed wages.” If the DOL conducts an audit and finds an issue of underpayment of an employee, they work with the employer to make the pay current....

Jul
16
2015

A 2014 Harris Poll conducted on behalf of CareerBuilder found that 20% of employers have unknowingly asked an illegal interview question. Further, at least a third of employers are unsure about the legality of some interview questions. “It’s important for...

Jun
09
2015

If you are hiring – or have hired – summer interns, you need to do the requisite “summer reading” on whether or not you need to pay them. Traditionally, most interns worked over the summer for the experience and to...

Apr
27
2015

Are the latest changes in federal wage and hour laws good for your business or only good for the government? In a session titled, “What’s New in Wage-Hour,” Matthew Simpson presented on the minimum wage and the impact of cities...

Apr
20
2015

Eight years ago, the federal government had 730 Department of Labor (DOL) investigators. Today, they have 1,000. That means more people available to investigate violations. Further, the process has changed. Employers used to be able to call the DOL and...

Apr
13
2015

Yes, even the Department of Labor (DOL) understands how effective online apps can be. This weekend, when you’re looking for a restaurant for dinner that is free of health violations, use the DOL’s app, Eat Shop Sleep. Users can search...