On January 22, 2021, after two months of stringent lockdown orders, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued a new epidemic order significantly relaxing gathering restrictions.
The NY DOL has issued new guidance that seeks to clarify the benefits available to all employees (except those in the healthcare industry) under the NY COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Law.
On January 21, 2021, President Biden designated Commissioner Charlotte Burrows (D) as the new chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
On January 8, 2021, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) issued its final rule modifying the calculation of withdrawal liability by multiemployer pension plans.
On January 14, 2021, Ontario announced the start of a workplace health and safety inspection blitz of big-box stores in certain cities. A week later, it expanded this program to additional business sectors.
On January 19, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released an opinion letter analyzing the application of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) creative professional exemption to journalists.
The DOL recently issued a letter responding to a food manufacturer’s request for an opinion on whether certain distributors of the manufacturer’s perishable products are employees or independent contractors under the FLSA.
On January 19, 2021, Oakland, California’s city council enacted an emergency ordinance extending and modifying its existing emergency paid sick leave (EPSL) ordinance.
On January 19, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor issued four new opinion letters. The final Wage and Hour opinion letter issued by the DOL under the Trump administration, FLSA2021-9, addressed two issues related to the trucking industry.
On the last full day of the Trump administration, the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) clarified that staffing firms can qualify as “retail or service establishments” under FLSA section 7(i).
