HR Legal Issues/Updates: DOL intends to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in March 2019, to determine the appropriate salary level for exemption of executive, administrative and professional employees. The Social Security Administration announced that Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits will provide a 8% cost-of-living adjustment in 2019. Charges filed with the EEOC …

Legal Updates & Reminders: New Model FMLA Notices & Medical Certification Forms are now available on the gov website. The content of the notices and certifications has not changed; just the expiration dates, extending to August 31, 2021. Nevertheless, make sure you start using these new forms immediately. New DOL Office: The U.S. Department of …

Legal Updates & Reminders… June 25: NC Gov. Roy Cooper signed a bill expanding opportunities for employment of individuals with criminal records (no more than 3 Class H or I felonies and any misdemeanors), by shielding employers from negligent hiring claims if they relied on the ‘certificate of relief’ given to these individuals by the …

On June 19, 2018, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published Frequently Asked Questions About Association Health Plans (AHPs) and issued a final rule that broadens the definition of “employer” and the provisions under which an employer group or association may be treated as an “employer” sponsor of a single multiple-employer employee welfare benefit plan and group health plan …

The Benefit Company would like to offer this reminder of the Georgia Hands-Free Law that will take effect on July 1st  . . . On July 1, 2018 Georgia’s Hands-Free Law takes effect. It is important for us and for our family members to understand the new law, as well as for companies to understand …

Legal Updates and Reminders: May 17, 2018: The South Carolina Pregnancy Accommodations Act was signed into law. This law amends the SC Human Affairs Law, and requires SC employers with 15 or more employees to make facilities readily accessible for and provide reasonable accommodations to employees with “medical needs arising from pregnancy, childbirth, or related …

Legal and Regulatory Updates: EEO-1 Filing: Initially postponed from September 2017 until March 31, 2018, the filing deadline has now been extended to June 1, 2018 for employers required to file one. Fully-Staffed NLRB (finally): On April 11, the U.S. Senate confirmed Republican John Ring as a member of the NLRB, and he was quickly …

Legal/Regulatory Updates and Reminders: Occupational Employment Statistics Report in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor— if your company is located in NC or SC and you receive this request for information, you best complete it. Providing this information is voluntary under federal law, but mandatory under state law in those two states. However, you …

Last month, I outlined the 3-stage process (desk audit, on-site review, and off-site analysis) the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) goes through to perform a review of your AAP. I included the itemized list of documents you are required to send them, so that they can perform their desk audit. This month, I …

Last month I mentioned the importance of getting your Affirmative Action Program (AAP) updated early in the year, just in case you get a letter from the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) saying your company is going to be audited. If you are required to produce an AAP but have never been audited, …