Monthly Archives: July 2020
Do I Have to Count My Employees’ Christmas Bonuses Towards Overtime? How the Fair Labor Standards Act Defines a Worker’s “Regular Rate” of Pay
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), a non-exempt employee is entitled to overtime compensation if they work more than 40 hours in a given workweek. Overtime pay must be at least 150 percent of the employee’s “regular rate” of pay. The regular rate of pay is calculated based on “all remuneration for employment… Read More »
“Don’t Complain or We Might Get Sued!” Why Florida Employers Need to Avoid Discouraging Employees from Voicing Concerns About Workplace Discrimination
Florida employers need to exercise care when dealing with employees who have alleged illegal discrimination in the workplace. Even if the allegations of discrimination prove to be unfounded, you cannot punish the employee who initially made the complaint. Such acts of “retaliation” are also illegal. Of course, you can still discipline or fire an… Read More »
Accommodating Pregnant Employees: How Florida Businesses Can Get Into Trouble for Treating Employees Facing “Similar” Medical Restrictions Differently
Federal law prohibits Florida employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of their pregnancy. This means that an employer must treat a pregnant employee the same as other persons “not so affected but similar in their ability or inability to work.” In other words, when crafting employment policies, you cannot treat pregnant workers… Read More »
Keeping Workplaces Safe: EEOC Advises Employers They Can Screen Employees for COVID-19 Symptoms
Much like the underlying public health situation, the legal environment surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic remains in a constant state of change. Regulators and members of the public alike must adjust to a “new normal” when it comes to maintaining safe workplaces. To that end, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently revised its own… Read More »