By Susan Prince JD, MSL
On September 22, 2020, the federal Department of Labor (DOL) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding rules for employers to follow when classifying a worker as an independent contractor or an employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).  This analysis is especially important to employers as the gig economy grows throughout the United States and companies such as Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash rely heavily on gig workers. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking can be interpreted as a loosening of the standards, so that employers will more easily be able to classify workers as independent contractors once the rule is finalized.

Wage and hour compliance is an area that can trip up even the most diligent employers under the best of circumstances—let alone during a global pandemic when you're trying to keep employees healthy, safe, and employed. While the health and safety concerns are unquestionably important, it's prudent to make wage and hour compliance a priority, too.

President Donald Trump’s plan to defer payroll taxes for many employees through the end of the year is sparking questions and criticism from employers—questions about how to implement the plan and criticism that the “tax holiday” may hurt more than it helps.

On August 24, the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) published guidance addressing employer obligations to track employee hours while teleworking. Even though the guidance is being issued in part because of the increase in teleworking arrangements during the COVID-19 crisis, the agency emphasized it applies to all telework or remote work arrangements, not just those caused by the pandemic.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) clarified the effect of President Donald Trump’s recent order that authorized additional funding for unemployment benefits. However, it’s unclear how long the funds will last.

By Jennifer Blake, PerformancePoint LLC

What is converting prospects into customers worth to your business? Your organization might have a phenomenal product, but if no one buys and uses it, its value will stay your little secret. Motivating salespeople to get your goods into customers’ hands is essential to the product’s success. Properly rewarding your salespeople reinforces and encourages their future successful performance. Read on to learn more about how to set up an effective sales compensation plan.

 

Uber and Lyft are under orders to reclassify their drivers in California as employees instead of independent contractors, after a judge issued a temporary injunction on August 10. Uber quickly announced it would file an emergency appeal.