Laborsphere

DOL Mulls Return to Obama-Era “Persuader” Reporting Rule

In late April 2021, the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) signaled its intent to revisit the “Persuader Rule” — an Obama-era regulation that imposes strict reporting requirements on employers facing organization. Although the Persuader Rule has not yet been reinstated, and will almost certainly face significant opposition, employers should be aware of the possible ramifications of the regulation.

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President Biden Raises the Minimum Wage to $15 for Certain Federal Contractors

On April 27, 2021, President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order (EO) requiring certain federal contractors to pay workers on government contracts at least $15 per hour beginning January 30, 2022. After 2022, the minimum wage will be adjusted annually for inflation at a rate set by the secretary of Labor (the secretary). The EO supported the minimum wage increase by stating that raising worker wages will promote efficiency in federal procurement through: (1) enhanced worker productivity and generation of higher-quality work from increased workers’ health, morale and effort; (2) reduced absenteeism and turnover; and (3) lowered supervisory and training costs.

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The EEOC Opens Portal for 2019 and 2020 EEO-1 Component 1 Reports With New Data Collection Website

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) begins EEO-1 Component 1 data collection today with its recently updated website. In addition to launching the new online filing system, the EEO-1 website features refreshed resource information, including 21 FAQs and four fact sheets, which discuss pointers for preparing to file and getting started, as well as reporting requirements for company organizational changes.

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The U.K. Immigration Video Series: A Guide to Commonly Used Visas

As employees, business leaders and travelers begin to adapt to the U.K.’s post-Brexit immigration system, a strong grasp of the most commonly used visa categories — including new visas established as a result of Brexit — is essential. To help you get up to speed, we’ve created a series of short videos providing basic overviews of each major visa category, prepared and narrated by the trainee solicitors of the Faegre Drinker immigration and global mobility team in London.

To view the videos, visit the Faegre Drinker website.

Summer Sun and State-Sponsored Stipends in Malta

First it was digital nomads. Now will “state-sponsored stipends” become part of the mainstream global lexicon?

As we have discussed at length, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected employers and employees across the world. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, governments have implemented measures to address the economic impact of the pandemic, including job retention schemes and promoting remote work. Last year, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the governments of Barbados and Estonia took a dynamic approach to changes in the workplace and introduced digital nomad visas that allow individuals to live in those countries while they work for foreign employers.

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Employers Beware: New York Protects Off-Duty Use of Recreational Cannabis

The adoption of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) makes New York the latest state to legalize recreational cannabis use for adults age 21 and older. This new law expands employment protections for those engaging in lawful off-duty use of cannabis — and since it’s effective immediately, New York employers should review and update their drug and alcohol testing policies quickly.

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