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Regulators at the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) had a busy summer dealing with violations of the wage and hour laws that deal with tipped workers. According to Bloomberg Law, the federal agency cited at least 13 companies for tip-credit and tip pool violations between June and August 2024. The crackdown shines a light on…

Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) serve valuable purposes in the business world. Often, high-level discussions about business partnerships and joint ventures require an NDA to ensure that parties can talk about confidential information without worrying about leaks. And senior employees with access to trade secrets and other confidential information may need to be under NDAs to protect…

When we think of hazards on construction sites, we usually think about physical safety: heavy equipment, power tools, and so on. But the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency that enforces anti-discrimination laws, is shedding light on another hazard that faces many construction workers: illegal harassment. New guidelines are designed to protect construction…

State and federal wage and hour laws are meant to protect workers. However, that’s not always how it plays out in practice. Whether due to ignorance or a deliberate ploy to pay workers less than they are owed, too many employers flout the law, and the consequence is money right out of your paycheck. The…

New guidelines reflect 25 years of changes in the law and the workplace Last month, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which enforces federal anti-discrimination laws, issued updated enforcement guidance on unlawful workplace harassment. This is the first time the federal agency has updated its guidance on the subject since 1999. While the EEOC's…

On April 23, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a new rule that would eliminate virtually all employee noncompete agreements nationwide. Nearly one in five American workers are currently subject to noncompetes, and this new rule will affect more than 30 million employees. The federal regulation would empower millions of workers According to the…

Recent research highlights the impact of discrimination on employees. It's well-known that discrimination can have serious effects on victims, but new research has highlighted just how profoundly it can affect physical health. The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA), looked at the connection between workplace discrimination and hypertension (high blood…

The new legislation doesn't affect employers' drug policies. Last year, Ohio became the 24th state to legalize recreational, adult-use marijuana after the passage of Issue 2. The new law allows adults 21 and over to possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use, as well as to grow a limited number of marijuana plants at…

Our attorneys can protect your rights if you lost your job. While the job market is currently strong for workers overall, in certain sectors of the economy, high-profile layoffs have made headlines across the country. Well-known companies like Amazon, Google, and Citigroup opened 2024 with layoffs, and while those job cuts may make business sense,…

Employers need to keep employees safe at work events. It's the holiday season, and many employers in Ohio are getting into the spirit by celebrating with their employees. When done well, office holiday parties can be a welcome respite from the day-to-day of the workplace, not to mention an opportunity to hand out some well-earned…