Compliance Stuff

Help is always available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.   Source(s): Workplace Safety Reminder for May 16, 2025 . (2025). United States Department of Labor. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOL/bulletins/3de2c91 ‌ ‌

Just weeks after a new earned sick leave law took effect, Missouri lawmakers voted yesterday to repeal it – upending compliance plans and raising fresh questions for employers across the state. The state senate repeal measure that overturns a 2024 voter referendum passed largely along party lines on Wednesday and is now headed to the governor’s desk , where it is expected to be approved in the near future. It also will scrap the planned cost-of-living increases to the new state minimum wage, which will rise to $15 on January 1, 2026. Read on to understand what’s happening, how you should respond, and what could come next. Quick Recap: What Just Happened? On May 14, the Missouri Senate passed  House Bill 567 , which repeals the paid sick leave provisions of Proposition A – a voter-approved initiative from November 2024 that required employers to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. The measure had only recently taken effect on May 1,  as we recently d...

 On May 12, Matthew R. Galeotti, the head of the US Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Criminal Division, announced a new white collar enforcement plan, outlined changes to the Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Disclosure Policy, and added new priority areas to the Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program Policy . The DOJ also introduced a new corporate monitor selection policy. Below, we highlight what to know about the new White Collar Enforcement Plan and the revised Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program Policy and what actions you can take today.  Below, we highlight what to know about the new White Collar Enforcement Plan and the revised Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program Policy and what actions you can take today. What to Know The plan underscores the US government’s “America First” priorities. Foreign organizations may be at increased enforcement risk. The DOJ is committed to investigating and prosecuting bribery, despite the temporary Foreign Corrupt ...

Takeaways When analyzing employment status under the FLSA, DOL investigators will apply previous subregulatory guidance, instead of the 2024 independent contractor final rule, including a 2019 opinion letter addressing independent contractor status and a 2008 fact sheet. Several lawsuits challenging the 2024 final rule are pending but the litigation is on hold as the DOL considers whether to rescind the rule. For now, the 2024 final rule remains in effect “for purposes of private litigation.” Related links Labor Department Releases Independent Contractor Final Rule, Revising Standard Employers Still Need to Abide 2024 Independent Contractor Rule Despite DOL Hints of Dropping It Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2025-1 Fact Sheet #13: Employment Relationship Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Wage and Hour Administrator  Opinion Letter FLSA2019-6 Gig Economy Virtual Marketplace Company Gets FLSA Nod in DOL Opinion Letter Article The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) will no longer a...

In this installment of our  Workplace Strategies Watercooler 2025  podcast series, Dee Anna Hays (shareholder, Tampa) and Lucas Asper (shareholder, Greenville), who are co-chairs of the firm’s Multistate Advice and Counseling Practice Group, join Todd Duffield (shareholder, Atlanta) to discuss the latest tips and trends for multistate handbooks. Dee Anna, Lucas, and Todd touch on various state and local law-specific issues and key topics for employers’ consideration, including revisiting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), leaves of absence, and reasonable accommodation policies. They also stress the importance of understanding employee monitoring and privacy limitations and employee rights to engage in protected activity under the National Labor Relations Act, a protection that extends to all employees, including those not represented by a union. Transcript Announcer: Welcome to the Ogletree Deakins podcast, where we provide listeners with brief discussions about importa...