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Wages & Hours

3 new state employment laws you must know

10/07/2010
Gov. David Paterson has signed into law legislation protecting domestic workers, granting bereavement and funeral leave rights to same-sex partners and ensuring fair play in the construction industry.

Pay raises averaging 2.5% this year; projected at 3.0% in 2011

10/04/2010
When it comes to pay raises, performance counts more than ever. In 2010, raises for low performers are averaging 0.7%, while high performers are pulling in 3.7% raises, says a new WorldatWork survey.

3 former female execs sue Goldman Sachs

09/27/2010
Only on Wall Street can you make $800,000 a year and claim that you’re underpaid. But three women who used to earn big bucks at Goldman Sachs are suing because they could have earned even more if they were men.

Is it OK to pay workers just once a month?

09/24/2010
Q. Is it legal to adopt a once-a-month payroll for hourly employees?

Can we push employees to donate to charity?

09/24/2010
Q. Is it legal for us to strongly encourage our employees to have money withheld from their paychecks to support a charity drive, like the United Way?

Can we discipline late worker by cutting her pay?

09/23/2010
Q. One of our hourly employees ($15 per hour) arrives late way too often. We’d like her to get here on time so we’re considering cutting her hourly rate when she arrives late. For example, if she arrives an hour late, we would not pay her for the hour and cut her pay to minimum wage for the rest of the day. Can we do that?

If a resigning employee gives two weeks’ notice, can we tell him not to bother coming in anymore?

09/22/2010
Q. If an employee resigns and gives two weeks’ notice, can we tell him he isn’t needed for the two weeks and avoid paying him for that time?

Bill would double rewards for minimum wage lawsuits

09/22/2010

California employees who sue their employers for minimum wage violations and win will be able to collect twice as much if a recently passed bill becomes law. A.B. 1881 would amend the California Labor Code to allow employees to sue for twice the amount they were underpaid, plus interest.

No private right to sue for tip violations

09/22/2010
The California Supreme Court has ruled that employees don’t have a private right to sue their employers for alleged tip violations.

Timeshare company to pay $868,000 in back wages

09/21/2010
Orlando-based Central Florida Investments will pay $868,443 in back pay and overtime to 1,065 employees to settle a complaint filed with the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor.