Does dual-role scheduling put your overtime compliance at risk? A new DOL opinion letter says it depends on the specific facts of the arrangement. The question came from an academic medical center, but the answer applies broadly to any employer…
Employment Law
The Department of Labor (DOL) has finalized a technical amendment restoring the 2019 overtime salary threshold to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) following two federal court decisions that invalidated the 2024 rule. For payroll teams, the amendment closes the…
A California placement agency and its owners are facing a $4.4 million citation after investigators found they engaged in worker misclassification, treating 144 caregivers as independent contractors rather than employees. The California Labor Commissioner's Office cited Hart Placement Agency Inc.…
An IHOP franchisee operating in North and South Carolina owes $95,095 in back wages after a DOL investigation found cooks were paid straight time for overtime hours. The agency has recently narrowed when it will pursue liquidated damages, which can…
Wage and hour litigation presents a recurring financial risk, with new data highlighting variability in employer exposure under the FLSA. A recent report from Seyfarth Shaw LLP provides benchmarks for assessing potential liability, forecasting legal spend and evaluating risk concentration…
A federal court found a worker had been misclassified and identified more than 800 hours of potential overtime. But the Fifth Circuit still upheld a jury verdict denying overtime pay. The case draws a clear line between compliance risk and…
A California carwash has agreed to a $1.2M settlement to resolve wage theft allegations, according to the California Labor Commissioner’s Office (LCO). The seven-figure payout averages $52,174 per affected employee across 23 workers, with individual settlements ranging from $8,500 to…
A Little Caesars franchisee will pay $409,457 for federal wage and hour violations, the Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced. The case shows how payroll mistakes turn into expensive liabilities when overtime calculations and recordkeeping controls fall short. Payroll Mistakes…
Who’s an employee and who’s an independent contractor? When making that determination for wage and hour compliance, businesses may soon have fewer restrictions. That’s because the Department of Labor (DOL) recently released a proposed rule on classifying workers, and it’s…
In a single month, federal regulators proposed $831,545 in OSHA penalties connected to workplace fatalities across four states and multiple industries, including construction, agriculture, manufacturing, and industrial energy. Seven employers now face enforcement actions tied to incidents that resulted in…
A Denver-area restaurant is paying nearly $62,000 after a DOL investigation uncovered tip retention and recordkeeping violations in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The case shows how a tip dispute can expand into broader wage-hour liability once…
A $6.2 million California paid sick leave settlement is prompting a closer look at how paid sick leave notices, payroll practices, and labor costs connect. The agreement closes out claims tied to labor practices during the height of the pandemic,…
