On Tuesday, September 17, 2013, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule extending the Fair Labor Standard Act’s (FLSA) minimum wage and overtime protections to an estimated two million home health care workers. Scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2015, this amendment narrows the FLSA’s “companionship” exemption.

In 1974, Congress extended

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal has determined that an employer’s permanent modification of employees’ “workweeks” in a way that reduced the number of overtime hours did not violate the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Abshire v. Redland Energy Services, IIC, 8th Cir., No. 11-3380, October 10, 2012.

The FLSA states that workers who

The Department of Labor has entered the digital age with a splash, and has announced the launch of its first application for smartphones. That app is a timesheet to help employees independently track regular work hours, break time and any overtime hours for one or more employers. Individuals also can access a glossary, contact information

In July 2008, the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) published proposed rules that would change several regulations issued under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Portal-to-Portal Act, including tip credit, fluctuating workweek, compensatory time, commuting, and other provisions. The proposed rules were not finalized during the previous Administration; however, a

With campaigns for the upcoming elections capturing voter interest, time-off for voting – and how that time-off affects attendance on the job – are issues that are being raised in many workplaces.  In 31 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, employers must allow employees time off to get to polling places and cast