The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released a draft Form W-4 for use in tax year 2020, which includes significant changes designed to further implement the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) passed in December 2017.

By Rodney L. Bean
New amendments to West Virginia law clarifying the wage obligations of companies that serve as prime contractors went into effect on June 7. The latest in a long line of legislative tweaks to state wage and hour law, the amendments provide much-needed detail about the steps an employee of a subcontractor must take before seeking unpaid wages from a prime contractor.

Salary history bans continue to gain in popularity across the United States. Over 10 states and half a dozen cities have enacted laws that prohibit employers from inquiring about an applicants’ prior or current compensation. This map highlights which states and cities have such laws in place and provides more detail about who is impacted.

By Zach Alter
The 8th Circuit—which covers Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota—recently decided that a worker's claim he was terminated because his employer had a "grudge" against him failed to satisfy the Fair Labor Standards Act's (FLSA) standard for establishing a retaliation claim.

By Kevin C. McCormick
In a widely expected move, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan vetoed a significant hike in the state's minimum wage, but the legislature immediately overrode the move, which means the current rate of $10.10 per hour will rise to $15 by 2025.

By Eamonn Hart
Sex discrimination with regard to pay has been illegal at the federal level for decades under both Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Pay Act. There's a similar prohibition on sex-based pay discrimination in Maine. Despite the existence of such measures, the pay gap remains real, and states continue to pass new laws to address it. Employers should be aware of one such law recently passed in Maine.

By Christopher Mann
The federal appeals court in New Orleans recently affirmed a multimillion-dollar verdict against a company arising from a workplace accident involving an independent contractor's employees. The case highlights the potential risks associated with using contract laborers and the need for enforceable contract language when engaging in such arrangements.