Labor Law Updates

The workplace is changing. According to Global Workplace Analytics, more than 4 million employees work from home at least half the time. Further still, 40% more U.S. employers now offer flexible working arrangements than they did five years ago.

While it’s not unusual for small business owners to downplay the importance of labor law posting compliance, this shortsighted thinking could come back to haunt them.

Failure to display complete and current workplace postings can deliver a one-two punch: government fines (which can add up fast) and potential employee lawsuits (which could devastate a small business). Let’s consider how these two very real factors could get you in trouble – and how to better protect your business.

Did you know that federal and state agencies aren’t the only authorities issuing labor law postings? These days, many cities and counties require businesses to post additional employee notices. Because it’s a fairly new trend, you may not even be aware if you’re affected — or to what extent, if you operate in multiple cities. But for total compliance, you need to add local-level postings to your posting compliance responsibilities.

Ten to 15 years ago, the idea of workers doing their jobs remotely was practically unheard of. Not anymore. In addition to a 50 percent increase in remote jobs in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields in 2018, remote work is on the rise in finance, banking, insurance, healthcare, and real estate.

The federal-level minimum wage hasn’t budged since 2009, remaining at $7.25/hr. a full decade later. On the state level, however, it’s quite a different story. During this time, numerous states and cities have stepped in and passed their own, higher minimum wages. In the past year alone, minimum wage increases took effect in approximately 75 states, cities and counties across the nation. These increases make up the biggest portion of mandatory postings employers must monitor and manage.