Laborsphere

DOL Issues Final Rule Updating Davis-Bacon and Related Acts

For the first time in almost 40 years, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced the issuance of regulations designed to update and modernize the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA), which require the payment of locally prevailing wages and fringe benefits on federal contracts for construction. The aptly-named final rule, Updating the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts Regulations (the Rule) will go into effect 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register.

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UK Immigration: Updates to Fines for Illegal Working and Renting

The Home Office acknowledged employment and housing as the leading factors for people illegally crossing the English Channel. These changes are intended to disincentivize illegal migration, as well as the businesses and landlords that may try to exploit such activities.

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British Government Announces Changes to the EU Settlement Scheme

The British government recently announced changes to the EU Settlement Scheme, with particular reference to the method of extending leave (the right to reside in the United Kingdom) under this scheme. The change includes a provision that beginning in September 2023, people with Pre-Settled Status under the scheme will automatically have their status extended by two years before it expires if they have not obtained Settled Status.

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What Employers Need to Know About the New Form I-9 as of August 1, 2023: Big Changes on the Horizon

Changes are coming for employers – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is set to publish a new Form I-9 on August 1, 2023. USCIS has also introduced new procedures that will allow certain employers to remotely verify employees’ identification and employment authorization documents.

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Life After Students for Fair Admissions: Dissecting Challenges to Employers’ Diversity Programs

The American First Legal Foundation and other organizations like it, have taken the position that all diversity, equity and inclusion programs are illegal since the Students for Fair Admissions Inc. decision from the U.S. Supreme Court. The groups have already filed actions against several companies for polices that include goals for the placement of people of color and women in leadership and leadership pipeline positions to match community demographics by a certain year; employee training and apprenticeship programs focused on underrepresented groups; and quantitative representation metrics for leadership incorporated into annual incentive compensation awards for senior leadership.

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New York State DOL Issues Amended WARN Regulations

The New York State Department of Labor (NYS DOL) amended its Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act (NY WARN) regulations, which took effect on June 21, 2023. Both NY WARN and its federal counterpart require covered businesses to provide advance notice of closures and layoffs to the Commissioner of Labor and affected employees. The NY WARN regulations are more expansive than the federal WARN regulations, defining “covered business” as any private business employing 50 or more full-time employees in New York. As outlined below, it also has stricter notice requirements.

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