Labor Law News

Missouri Updates Labor Law Poster

Extensive Revisions Made to Workers' Compensation Law

January 22, 2010

Missouri has completely revised its mandatory Workers' Compensation Law poster to include a number of changes to the workplace rules and responsibilities for both employers and employees.

The revised poster now states that, with some exceptions, all Missouri employers with five or more employees are required to insure their workers' compensation liability, either by purchasing a policy or obtaining self-insurance coverage. This law also applies to construction industry employers with one or more employees.

A section of the poster that describes an employer's responsibilities when a workplace injury occurs has been expanded to include specific steps that must be taken. These steps include reporting a workplace injury to an insurance company or Third Party Administrator and paying any medical bills related to that injury.

The poster now includes a "Fraud/Noncompliance" section that defines what constitutes fraud for employers, employees and insurance companies and what penalties they face for providing false or misleading information.

Employers also face possible fines and imprisonment for knowingly failing to comply with their workers' compensation liability under Missouri law.

In the "Workplace Safety" section of the poster, employees are urged to report all safety hazards or concerns to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The previous workers' compensation poster stated that such reports should be made to the employer's designated safety person.

The "Benefits for Injured Employees" section of the poster has been rewritten to include additional information about the medical care that must be provided after a workplace injury occurs and the eligibility requirements for lost wage payments if an employee cannot work.

A new "Survivor Benefits" section states that if an employee dies on the job, the surviving dependents may receive weekly death benefits paid at 66 2/3 percent of the deceased employee's average weekly wage for the year immediately preceding the fatal accident.

New Posters Available

The revised Workers' Compensation Law poster is included in a Missouri labor law poster offered by Poster Compliance Center. The poster meets all of the state's workplace posting requirements for general employers.

Arizona Revises Labor Law Poster

Discrimination Categories Expanded, Minimum Wage Poster Updated

Arizona has revised a required labor law poster to include the results of genetic testing as a category that employers, employment agencies and labor unions cannot use as a basis for discrimination in employment.

The state's Discrimination in Employment poster now includes seven specific categories that may not be used against an employee. In addition to genetic testing, the categories include race, color, religion, sex, age (40+), national origin and disability.

Arizona's Minimum Wage Act poster has also been updated to declare that the $7.25 per hour rate that was in place for 2009 will be carried over to 2010. The $7.25 per hour minimum wage is effective as of Jan. 1, 2010.

In the past, Arizona's minimum wage was increased annually based on an increase in the cost of living. Information that the minimum wage is increased every  January 1 has been removed from the current poster issued by the Arizona Industrial Commission.

New Posters Available

The revised Discrimination in Employment and Minimum Wage Act posters are included in an Arizona labor law poster offered by Poster Compliance Center. The poster meets all of the state's workplace posting requirements for general employers.

Rhode Island Updates Labor Law Poster

New Registration Requirement Added for Unemployment Benefits

Rhode Island has revised a mandatory labor law poster to include a new requirement that employees must register for work with the state's Department of Labor and Training in order to collect unemployment insurance benefits.

The Unemployment Insurance Benefits poster also includes expanded hours for claimants who wish to file for benefits with the Department of Labor and Training by telephone. A statement that interpreters are available for claimants on the previous unemployment benefits poster has been removed.

In addition, a number of changes have been made to the contact information for employment and training services available to Rhode Island workers who find themselves out of a job.

New Posters Available

A revised Unemployment Insurance Benefits poster is included in a Rhode Island labor law poster offered by Poster Compliance Center. The poster meets all of the state's labor law posting requirements for general employers.

Oregon Issues Revised Labor Law Posters

Minimum Wage, Family Leave Act Posters Updated

Oregon has revised two mandatory labor law posters to include revisions to the general working conditions to be maintained by employers and new information about the state's recently enacted Military Family Leave Law.

The Oregon Minimum Wage poster includes an extension of the state's current minimum pay rate of $8.40 per hour for another year, through December 31, 2010. The state's minimum wage is tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and is recalculated each year.

The CPI for Oregon declined 1.5 percent in 2009. However, Oregon's minimum wage law, passed by voters in 2002, does not provide for any reduction in the minimum wage when the CPI declines.

The "General Working Conditions" section of the poster includes new information about deductions that can be made from an employee's wages.

Deductions are now allowed that are for the employee's benefit and are authorized in writing. They are also allowed for an item in which the employer is not the ultimate recipient and the employee has voluntarily signed an authorization.

The revised poster now states that meal periods of not less than 30 minutes must be provided to non-exempt adult employees. A provision that allows an employee, under exceptional circumstances, to perform duties during a meal period if they are paid for the entire period has also been added to the poster.

In addition, the poster now states that state laws prohibiting meal and rest periods from being waived or being used to adjust working hours do not apply to certain tipped food and beverage service workers.

The Family Leave Act poster, required for employers with 25 or more employees in the state, includes new information about the Oregon Military Family Leave Law that went into effect on June 14, 2009.

The new law provides up to 14 days of unpaid leave to eligible employees who are a spouse or same gender domestic partner of members of the armed forces during periods of military conflict.

Employees are eligible for the leave after being employed for 180 calendar days and having worked at least an average of 20 hours per week during that period.

New Posters Available

Revised Minimum Wage and Family Leave Act posters are included in an Oregon labor law poster offered by Poster Compliance Center. The poster meets all of the state's labor law posting requirements for general employers.

 

Colorado Issues Revised Labor Law Posters

Minimum Wage, Employment Security Posters Updated

Colorado has revised its labor law posters to include new information about the state's minimum wage and the criteria used to be classified as an employee for the purposes of unemployment insurance.

As of January 1, 2010, Colorado's minimum wage will decrease from $7.28 per hour to $7.24 per hour based on an adjustment in the state's inflation rate. The new rate is included in the Colorado Minimum Wage Order 26 Poster.

The minimum wage rate for tipped employees also decreases on January 1, from $4.26 per hour to $4.22 per hour.

The updated minimum wage poster also includes new information stating that if an employee is covered by both state and federal minimum wage laws, the law which provides the higher rate applies.

Colorado's unemployment notice to workers has been updated to include a new section stating that workers have the right to be classified as employees if they meet certain criteria. Workers are directed to a Colorado revised statute to determine the criteria used.

The poster also states that a complaint process is available to employees who believe they have been improperly classified as independent contractors. A phone number is listed on the poster for anyone wishing to file such a complaint.

In addition, a Notice Of Paydays poster, which is required for all Colorado workplaces, has been issued by the state. The new poster includes information about the law requiring notice of paydays, and requirements for pay periods and paydays and must be filled out by the employer.

New Posters Available

The revised minimum wage and unemployment posters plus the new Notice of Paydays poster are included in a Colorado labor law poster offered by Poster Compliance Center. The poster meets all of the state's labor law posting requirements for general employers.

 

Wyoming Updates Labor Law Poster

Health and Safety Poster Includes New Phone Number

Wyoming has issued a revised workplace poster that includes a new phone number for anyone wishing to make a complaint regarding the administration of the state's Occupational and Safety Act.

The new phone number is for the regional office of the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration in Denver. A phone Number on the previous poster has been disconnected.

New Posters Available

An updated Health and Safety poster is included in a Wyoming labor law poster offered by Poster Compliance Center. The poster meets all of the state's labor law posting requirements for general employers.

North Carolina Updates Labor Law Poster

Wage and Hour Poster Includes New Youth Worker Information

North Carolina has revised its Wage and Hour Notice to Employees poster with new information about hazardous or detrimental occupations for youths under 18 years of age.

A new section of the poster lists specific examples of the protections that prevent employers from hiring youth workers for any jobs deemed hazardous and detrimental.

The poster states that non-agricultural workers under 18 years of age may not operate a forklift or many types of power equipment, such as meat slicers, circular saws, band saws, bakery machinery or woodworking machinery.

In addition, young employees may not work as an electrician or electrician's helper or work from any height above 10 feet, including the use of ladders or scaffolds.

Information about North Carolina's minimum wage has been rewritten to clarify a requirement that employees be paid at least $7.25 an hour. That minimum wage rate is the same as the federal rate that went into effect July 24, 2009.

Also, the North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) poster now states that it must be posted with the Wage and Hour Notice to Employees.

New Posters Available

Revised Wage and Hour and OSH posters are included in a North Carolina labor law poster offered by Poster Compliance Center. The poster meets all of the state's labor law posting requirements for general employers.

 

Alaska Revises Labor Law Poster

Unemployment Poster Includes New Premium Ratio

Alaska has revised its mandatory unemployment labor law poster with a new percentage rate for employee and employer premiums paid for the insurance that helps workers who lose their jobs.

Employers will now pay about 73 percent of unemployment insurance premiums while employees will pay about 27 percent. The previous ratio was about 80 percent for employers and 20 percent for employees.

In addition, three website addresses for those applying for unemployment insurance benefits have been changed on the poster.

New Posters Available

A revised unemployment insurance poster is included in an Alaska labor law poster offered by Poster Compliance Center. The poster meets all of the state's labor law posting requirements for general employers.

Mandatory Federal Change - New EEO/GINA Poster Required

A revised "Equal Employment Opportunity Is the Law" poster including new information about GINA (Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act)

Lafayette, Calif., October 22- A revised "Equal Employment Opportunity Is the Law" poster including new information about GINA (Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008) was issued today by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The new GINA Title II regulations are effective Nov. 21, 2009.

This is a mandatory federal change for employers with 15 or more employees.Title II applies to private and state and local government employers, employment agencies, labor unions, and joint labor-management training programs.

A new section called "Genetics" explains Title II of GINA, which protects applicants and employees from discrimination based on genetic information, restricts employers' acquisition and disclosure of genetic information, and defines genetic information.

GINA was passed almost unanimously in 2008 by both houses of Congress and quickly signed into law by President George W. Bush.  It was called "the first major new civil rights bill of the new century" by the late Senator Edward Kennedy.

It was enacted, in large part, in recognition of developments in the field of genetics, the decoding of the human genome, and advances in the field of genomic medicine, according to the EEOC.

GINA defines genetic information as information about genetic tests, family medical history and requests for or receipt of genetic services by applicants, employees or family members.

Changes from the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 and other updates from the U.S. Department of Labor are also reflected on the new version of the EEO poster.

Poster Compliance Center is updating its all-in-one federal poster, which already included the July 2009 federal minimum wage increase and the January 2009 FMLA change.

Maine Revises Labor Law Posters

Regulation of Employment, Minimum Wage Posters Updated

Maine has revised its Regulation of Employment workplace poster to include two new provisions stating that severance pay may be due to certain employees and that nursing mothers have the right to express milk during break periods.

In addition, Maine has updated its Minimum Wage poster to include a new regulation that an employer may not discriminate against employees for discussing their wages with others.

The mandatory Regulation of Employment poster includes a new section stating that businesses with 100 or more employees at a single location may have to provide severance pay to employees if that business location closes or has a mass layoff.

The Rest Breaks section of the poster has been expanded to include a requirement that nursing mothers be provided with unpaid break time or be permitted to use their paid break or meal time to express milk.

The new requirement states that employers must make a reasonable effort to provide a clean room or location, other than a bathroom, where milk can be expressed.

The mandatory Minimum Wage poster also includes expanded information regarding camp counselors who are exempt from the state's minimum wage and overtime provisions.

New Posters Available

Revised Regulation of Employment and Minimum Wage posters are included in a Maine labor law poster offered by Poster Compliance Center. The poster meets all of the state's labor law posting requirements for general employers.