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What I've Been Reading This Week


Having spent most of the week on the road for work. I had limited time between hearings and a trial to read through many articles.  Regardless, with a bit of spare time at hotels, I was able to multitask and read through a few good articles while also watching both nights of the 2020 Democratic Presidential debates to see how the candidates addressed relevant labor and employment law topics. 

As always, below are a couple articles that caught my eye this week.


D.C.'s Ban the Box Law Nets $500,000.00 in Fines Against Employers

Since the District of Columbia passed a ban the box law prohibiting employers from asking applicants about their criminal history, there have been a host of fines imposed against employers for breaking this law.  With more than $500,000.00 in fines imposed, it is evident that even with a ban the box law in place, some employers are still running afoul of the law.  With that being said, as this article from The Washington Post notes, the number of charges filed has decreased since the law went into effect a few years ago...from more than 400 charges in fiscal year 2015 to less than 100 in fiscal year 2018.  It goes without saying that for employers living in cities or states with ban the box laws in place, it is important to not ask applicants about their salary histories or risk getting hit with a fine like many employers in D.C. have faced.


Minimum Wage & the 2020 Democratic Presidential Candidates

Some readers might have watched the Democratic Presidential debates this past Wednesday and Thursday.  On Wednesday night, the question of equal pay came up not less than ten minutes into the debate when former Secretary of Housing & Urban Development Julian Castro was asked how he would address equal pay matters in the country.  Notably, he responded that if he were elected President, he would support passage of an equal pay for equal work law.  (Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard was asked to address the same topic but skirted the issue without giving specifics about how she would tackle equal pay as President.)  On the topic of Presidential candidates, Politico recently published an overview of the position of each 2020 Democratic Presidential candidate in regard to their stance on the minimum wage rate.  For those looking for a concise guide on how each candidate stands on the minimum wage topic, this article is well worth a read.

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