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Wages & Hours

How much are you worth in today’s troubled economy?

01/27/2009

The global economic crisis that has forced U.S. employers to slash their salary budgets has not spared HR salaries. A new report says HR pros’ base pay and incentive compensation grew more slowly last year. Compensation isn’t expected to rebound in 2009, either. Find out where you stand.

When in doubt, note multiple FLSA exemptions

01/27/2009

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employees fit into one of two general categories—they are either hourly or exempt. But sometimes, an employee’s job may seem to fit into more than one category. If that’s the case, don’t be shy about noting that in the job description.

New Jersey may boost minimum wage to $8.50

01/27/2009

Back in 2005, the New Jersey Legislature enacted legislation raising the state’s minimum wage to a rate higher than the federal minimum wage. Now, with the federal minimum set to go up later this year, a state commission is advocating another boost in the state minimum wage.

Class actions exploded in ’08, employers continue to pay the price

01/27/2009

Employment law class-action litigation is growing at an explosive rate, and the economic meltdown will probably fuel even more lawsuits in 2009. So says a recent report that also predicts far greater financial exposure for employers that must defend their employment policies in court. Here are the gory details.

The Obama years: 4 predictions for employment law circa 2012

01/21/2009

President Obama has put forth a significant employment and labor agenda. If he and the Democratic-controlled Congress succeed in passing proposed legislation, the next several years will see the creation of new protected classes, more family leave rights and the re-emergence of labor unions.

Huge Wal-Mart settlement spotlights OT, breaks

01/16/2009

In what’s being described as the largest settlement ever for wage-related lawsuits, Wal-Mart recently agreed to pay as much as $640 million to settle 63 pending lawsuits over wage-and-hour violations.

New minimum wage levels take effect in 11 states

01/16/2009

On Jan.1, the hourly minimum wage increased in 11 states. The federal minimum, currently $6.55 per hour, is scheduled to increase on July 24 to $7.25.

Report shows mixed results for Chicago’s female execs

01/16/2009

The Chicago Network’s 2008 census report, Breaking Away, showed mixed progress for women executives in the greater Chicago area.

Motorola cuts executive pay, freezes employee pension

01/16/2009

Schaumberg-based Motorola announced in December that it would cut executive pay and freeze pension contributions to control costs. Co-chief executives Greg Brown and Sanjay Jha said they would trim their own base salaries by 25% in 2009.

Don’t assume privacy clause guarantees privacy

01/15/2009

Some employers include a privacy clause in their applications and handbooks that tells employees they can opt out of having their names and addresses released to third parties. However, if a worker who is suing for wage-and-hour violations wants to get his hands on employee names and contact information for the purpose of building a class-action case, those privacy clauses can’t stop it.