Articles Posted in Wage and Hour

ChatGPT-Image-Jul-14-2025-09_09_02-AM-683x1024

Where have I been? I took a short break from July 4 through July 14 to spend some time offline on vacation with my family. Thanks for your patience—and I promise this one was worth the wait.

The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) became law on July 4—and with it, major new tax and reporting obligations for employers. From payroll compliance to fringe benefit design, much of what’s in this law affects HR, legal, and finance teams directly.

To help employers get ahead of the coming changes, we’re hosting a live Zoom panel discussion (with time for audience Q&A) featuring three top minds in tax and benefits law.

🗓️ Thursday, July 24, 2025 at Noon ET
📍 Zoom: Register here
Continue reading

ChatGPT-Image-Jun-28-2025-11_41_54-PM
If the Department of Labor comes knocking about unpaid wages, here’s some welcome news: as of June 27, 2025, it can no longer demand liquidated damages—unless it sues you.


TL;DR: In Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) 2025-3, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Wage and Hour Division (WHD) can no longer seek liquidated damages in administrative investigations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). That means employers resolving matters with the DOL—without going to court—are now only liable for back wages.

📄 Read the full Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) 2025-3 here

ChatGPT-Image-Jun-3-2025-08_09_56-PM

On Monday, June 2, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced the relaunch and expansion of its opinion letter program. This move reinstates a valuable compliance tool for employers, particularly those navigating complex wage-and-hour for Family and Medical Leave Act regulations. Continue reading

ChatGPT-Image-May-27-2025-09_24_59-PM-683x1024
A recent DOL enforcement action shows how routine rounding practices can spiral into serious legal exposure. This post breaks down one employer’s nearly $600,000 mistake—and explains what the FLSA really permits when it comes to rounding work time.


TL;DR: A construction contractor just had to pay nearly $600,000 in back wages and damages after the Department of Labor found systemic underpayment of overtime. A key issue? The company’s rounding and timekeeping practices. Rounding work time can be legal—but only if it doesn’t shortchange employees over time. Here’s what every employer needs to know.


A Costly Lesson in Cutting Corners

ChatGPT-Image-May-13-2025-07_36_49-PM-683x1024

Fired Over $15. Or Was It the HR Complaints?

A laundromat worker reimbursed herself $15 from the register for a taxi fare—something she claimed was standard practice with a receipt. Three days later, she was fired. But because she had just complained about racial harassment, disability discrimination, and unpaid wages, the timing raised red flags.

The Second Circuit said a jury should decide whether she was fired for taking the $15—or for speaking up. Continue reading

ChatGPT-Image-May-12-2025-10_23_20-PM-683x1024

You’d expect a company to listen when its Chief People Officer—especially one with nearly three decades of labor and employment law experience—raises concerns about compliance. Instead, this employer—a law firm—reassigned her shortly thereafter and fired her within the week of returning from bereavement leave. A jury just awarded her $3.27 million for retaliation.

Continue reading

1745164778513

Whether you’re drafting agreements for a C-suite hire, a high-profile consultant, or a VIP client, there are legal landmines everywhere—from misclassification to IP disputes. Today, we’re tackling them all.


TL;DR: Join me and attorney Merlyne Jean-Louis for a free Zoom session at 12 PM ET today—Friday, May 9, 2025—as we break down the legal and strategic considerations that go into working with VIPs, whether they’re public figures, top executives, or behind-the-scenes power players.
🔗 Register here


Continue reading

 

ChatGPT-Image-May-1-2025-09_44_43-PM-683x1024

The Department of Labor just blinked. Again. In its latest move, the agency announced that it’s stepping back from its own 2024 independent contractor rule and reverting to older, more flexible standards. That’s not just a procedural shift—it’s a clear signal that the DOL may be moving away from stricter employee classification altogether. Continue reading

“Doing What’s Right – Not Just What’s Legal”
Contact Information