Skip to main content

What I've Been Reading This Week


With a trial earlier this week and another one upcoming at the start of next week, I have been buried in trial prep most of the past week or so.  When I have had a chance to take a break, I have come across some good articles that are worth highlighting.  With several prominent developments on the labor law front over the past few weeks, I wanted to give readers a bit more variety this week.  (Of course, notwithstanding the article below in regard to how some of the Democratic Presidential candidates stack up in regard to their labor law positions...)

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


Grading the Labor Plans of the Democratic Presidential Candidates

Last week, Steven Greenhouse wrote an article in which he gave an overview of the labor plans of several of the Democratic Presidential candidates and scored each one on how labor friendly it was.  (For kicks, Greenhouse scored President Donald Trump's labor positions as well.)  While some things have changed, notably with Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar releasing a revised labor proposal this past Sunday, this article is worth a read for those looking for a broad overview of where many of the Democratic candidates stand in regard to big labor.


Labor Department Settles Pay and Racial Bias Claims Made Against Three Large Companies

Bloomberg published an article on Monday in which it noted that the Labor Department has announced settlements with three large companies over pay and racial bias claims made against the companies.  The companies, Goldman Sachs, Dell Technologies, and Bank of America, will reportedly pay over $20 million combined to resolve the claims.  The Bloomberg articles is worth a read as it goes more in depth as to the allegations made against the companies.


With the Implementation of the New Overtime Rules, Remember to Review Your Own Practice

Readers will recall that last week, the Labor Department published its new overtime rules that change the rules in regard to when workers are entitled to earn overtime.  HRDive has a rather extensive analysis of how the new overtime rule will apply to certain workers and provides readers with suggestions on how they can ensure compliance with the new rule before it takes effect January 1, 2020.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NLRB: Discussion Among Employees About Tip Pooling is Protected Concerted Activity

  This Advice Memorandum from the National Labor Relations Board’s Associate General Counsel, Jayme Sophir, addressed whether employees which discussed and complained about tip pooling at work constituted protected concerted activity. In relevant part, an employer in New York operated a chain of steakhouses.  While tip pooling was in place at these steakhouses, some of the employees objected to it on the grounds that it was not transparent and improperly divided tips among the workers.  Employees were told not to complain or talk to each other about the tip pool and were told that doing so would endanger their jobs.  Despite the employer later attempting to provide some clarity as to how the tips were being divided, rancor still existed among some employees.  At one point, the employees were told by a general manager that some employees that had been talking about the tip pool were “cleared out” and the employer would continue to do so. In the Advice Memorandum,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Breaking: Labor Secretary Rumored to Be Leaving Administration

A few hours ago, word leaked out that Labor Secretary Marty Walsh (“Walsh”) is in the midst of negotiations to head up the NHL Players Union and leave his position at the Labor Department. Walsh, who has served as the sole Labor Secretary under President Biden, has taken part in a labor renaissance of sorts as support for organized labor has increased during his term as Labor Secretary (although the number of workers that have joined a union over the past two years has not grown as mush as some expected.)  He has also overseen the ongoing negotiations with rail workers over a new contract, although that matter is still on shaky ground and playing out as we speak. As for who might step into the vacant Labor Secretary role, there are already rumblings that President Biden should nominate Deputy Labor Secretary Julie Su (a strong labor advocate) or even a progressive like Senator Bernie Sanders.  Until Walsh officially gives his notice, however, I would expect some/many potential...
Post a Comment
Read more

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Vetoes Minimum Wage Hike

A few months ago, readers might remember that I pointed out that the New Jersey Legislature had voted to approve a minimum wage hike in the state .  Under the approved legislation, the minimum wage rate would rise to $10.10/hour in the next year and at least $15/hour over the next five.  (The current minimum wage rate in the state is $8.38/hour).  In that article, I had noted that the bill was then going to go before Governor Chris Christie for his approval or veto. As I had suggested previously, I thought that the Governor would likely veto the bill based upon his prior actions and comments on similar legislation.  Well, a few days ago, Governor Christie did just that and vetoed the bill on the grounds that it "would trigger an escalation of wages that will make doing business in New Jersey unfathomable."  Pointing to the increase in hourly minimum wage rates, the Governor referred to the bill as a "really radical increase."  (It is interesting to c...
Post a Comment
Read more