By

Carrie Mount Roelle
As of January 22 of this year, all employers must use the new version of Form I-9. The updated version includes several changes.  The new form along with instruction for completing the form can be found here: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9. We suggest using the downloadable, fillable PDF version rather than the paper form. The fillable PDF is a...
Read More
Although employees with serious health conditions are entitled to take leave under the Family and Medical Act (FMLA), employees are learning more and more ways to abuse this leave – especially when it comes to intermittent leave. What can employers do to help curb this FMLA abuse? The first thing employers should do is look...
Read More
Currently, same-sex spousal leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is only available to employees who reside in a state that recognizes same-sex marriages. For example, an employee who validly entered into a same-sex marriage in one state, but now resides in a state that does not recognize same-sex marriages, would not be eligible...
Read More
If you are an employer who purchases background checks for employment purposes, then a new Technical Assistance Document (TAD) issued on March 10, 2014, is a must-read for you.  The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) joined together to issue informal guidance regarding the legal pitfalls employers face when making personnel...
Read More
Many employers do not realize that paying an employee a fixed salary does not necessarily mean the employee is exempt from overtime protection under state and federal laws. Being paid a salary is not the same as being exempt. Exempt employees are not covered by, or are “exempt” from, overtime protection. When exempt employees work more than...
Read More
For the first time in a decade, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has a fully-confirmed five-member board.  On July 30, the United States Senate confirmed all five of President Obama’s nominees. Prior to that vote, the NLRB had been operating with only three members, two of which were “recess appointments.” Because of the manner...
Read More
It’s summertime and many businesses are taking advantage of unpaid interns, mostly college students fulfilling academic requirements or looking for real-world experience to bolster their resumes. Unpaid internships are a win-win for both the employer and the student, right?  Not so fast. Joining a growing trend of lawsuits filed by unpaid interns, two of Fox...
Read More
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently released a revised Form I-9 and employers should begin using it right away. Form I-9 must be completed by all employers to confirm the identity of newly-hired employees and verify the employee’s eligibility to work in the United States.  The revised Form I-9 has expanded from one...
Read More
Is telecommuting right for your business? Yahoo and Best Buy recently reconsidered the answer to this question, resulting in a media uproar supporting telecommuting employees. But what legal issues do employers face with telecommuting? Following are five key issues employers should consider: Wage and hour compliance. Employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act must...
Read More
When employees quit or are terminated, what happens with their vacation pay often creates an issue for employers.  In Indiana, vacation pay is subject to the Wage Payment Statute.  This means that employees are entitled to be paid for any accrued, but unused vacation time unless employers have a written policy to the contrary.  If...
Read More