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Court Sides With USDOL and Orders Restaurant Operators to Pay More than $2 Million In Back Wages and Penalties

Court Sides With USDOL and Orders Restaurant Operators to Pay More than $2 Million In Back Wages and Penalties

Two restaurant owners-operators who managed five restaurants called Oriental Forest have been ordered by a federal court judge to pay $2,030,430 in minimum wage and overtime pay and damages owed to 129 workers following an investigation by the USDOL’s Wage and Hour Division. The court also ordered the business owners not to violate minimum wage and […]

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CPSC Releases Additional Chinese Drywall Results

CPSC Releases Additional Chinese Drywall Results

On November 23, 2009, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released additional information in its ongoing review of the corrosive effects of Chinese drywall.  The CPSC released the results of a 51-home indoor air quality study, an electrical component corrosion study, and a fire safety component corrosion study.  The executive summary of the CPSC’s […]

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Title II of Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act Effective Today

Title II of Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act Effective Today

Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) is effective today, November 21, 2009.  Title II of GINA prohibits an employer’s use of genetic information in making decisions related to any terms, conditions, or privileges of employment.  GINA also prohibits employers from intentionally acquiring genetic information, requires confidentiality with respect to genetic information (with limited exceptions), and […]

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USDOL Secretary Solis Announces Hiring of 250 New Wage and Hour Investigators

USDOL Secretary Solis Announces Hiring of 250 New Wage and Hour Investigators

Yesterday, USDOL Secretary Hilda Solis announced that USDOL has hired 250 new Wage and Hour investigators.  The hiring will result in a 33% increase in investigative staff which, no doubt, will herald more investigations.  As the Secretary’s press release stated, “America’s workers should rest assured that protecting worker rights is a top priority at the […]

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This Is The Last Week The EEOC Will Receive Written Comments About New ADAA Regulations

This Is The Last Week The EEOC Will Receive Written Comments About New ADAA Regulations

November 23, 2009, is the last day that the EEOC will receive any further written comments upon its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for new regulations to implement the the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAA) which took effect on January 1st of this year.  The NPRM proposes a significant adjustment in how the EEOC will […]

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Department of Homeland Security to Hold Employer Symposium

Department of Homeland Security to Hold Employer Symposium

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced plans to hold a one day symposium entitled “Government and Employers 2009:  Working Together to Ensure a Legal Workforce.”  According to DHS, the talk is intended to cover employment eligibility compliance, the E-Verify federal contractor rule, the future course of worksite enforcement and other topics.  Aside from […]

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Senator Dodd Expected to Propose Paid Sick Leave Today

Senator Dodd Expected to Propose Paid Sick Leave Today

As chairman of the subcommittee on Children and Families, Christopher Dodd (D:CT) is expected today to unveil the Senate’s version of a bill that would provide up to seven (7) days of paid sick leave for workers and perhaps worker’s family members who are ill, including individuals who have contracted H1N1 swine flu.  Given that the Department of […]

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State and Federal Officials Study Chinese Drywall

State and Federal Officials Study Chinese Drywall

As Florida and other states sought to rebuild after the 2004 and 2005 hurricanes, building materials were at a premium.  Unfortunately, homeowners are now finding that certain drywall imported from China and used in building or repairing homes is toxic and is believed to be causing a variety of problem ranging from corrosion of pipes […]

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Employee Free Choice Act Expected to Gain Momentum

Employee Free Choice Act Expected to Gain Momentum

With the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) became the Chairman of the influential Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on September 10, 2009.  Although the HELP committee has spent much time on the topic of health care reform, Washington insiders expect that the HELP committee will soon turn its attention to […]

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Citizens Rate Filing Approved for PLA

Citizens Rate Filing Approved for PLA

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation had its first rate increase in several years approved by Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty on October 29, 2009.   The Order approves rates for the Personal Lines  Account and the Mobile Homeowners Physical Damage Accounts and Commercial Lines Accounts. The order approving the filing does not address the High Risk Accounts (coastal territories […]

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