Labor & Employment Law

12 Jun When do employers need a Summary Plan Description?

Posted at 13:46h in 2023, Employee Benefits, Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI), Labor & Employment Law

By Anita Byer, Setnor Byer Insurance & Risk If you are an employer sponsoring an employee group health plan, you must have an ERISA-compliant Summary Plan Description. The federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) is designed to protect plan participants by setting minimum disclosure standards...

26 Jan FTC proposes ban on non-compete clauses for employees

Posted at 16:43h in 2023, Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI), Human Resources, Labor & Employment Law

By Anita Byer, Setnor Byer Insurance & Risk The Federal Trade Commission recently proposed a new rule that would ban the use of non-compete clauses in employment agreements. The FTC believes that the widespread use of non-compete clauses suppresses wages, hampers innovation and stifles entrepreneurship. According...

06 Sep Florida minimum wage increasing by $1 on September 30th

Posted at 21:43h in 2022, Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI), Human Resources, Labor & Employment Law

By Anita Byer, Setnor Byer Insurance & Risk In case you forgot, Florida’s minimum wage is increasing by $1 at the end of the month. On September 30, 2022, Florida’s minimum wage will increase to $11 per hour. The minimum wage for tipped employees, which must...

26 Jul New EEOC guidance limits employers’ ability to test employees for COVID-19

Posted at 16:12h in 2022, COVID-19, Human Resources, Labor & Employment Law

By Anita Byer, Setnor Byer Insurance & Risk New guidance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission may limit an employer’s ability to test employees for COVID-19 going forward. This is a particularly significant development as COVID-19 transmission rates surge nationwide. On July 12, 2022, the EEOC...

17 May DHS proposes Form I-9 overhaul and extends pandemic-related compliance flexibilities

Posted at 16:43h in 2022, Human Resources, Labor & Employment Law

By Anita Byer, Setnor Byer Insurance & Risk The Department of Homeland Security is proposing an overhaul of its Employment Eligibility Verification form a/k/a Form I-9. This form is used by employers to verify the identity and employment authorization of every employee hired in the United...

07 Mar New law ends forced arbitration of sexual harassment claims

Posted at 22:42h in 2022, Commercial Insurance, Human Resources, Labor & Employment Law

By Anita Byer, Setnor Byer Insurance & Risk A new federal law prohibits employers from forcing employees to arbitrate sexual harassment claims. The Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act invalidates pre-dispute agreements that force employees to resolve claims of sexual harassment through...

27 Jan EEOC Enforcement Activity Increasing, Approaching Pre-Pandemic Levels

Posted at 19:39h in 2022, Commercial Insurance, Human Resources, Labor & Employment Law, Risk Management

By Anita Byer, Setnor Byer Insurance & Risk The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s enforcement capabilities are returning to pre-pandemic levels. Despite COVID-19, the EEOC remains committed to preventing and remedying unlawful employment discrimination and advancing equal opportunities in the workplace. The most recent Agency Financial Report...

20 Jan Florida’s New Reporting Requirement Forces Businesses to Track Payments to Individual Contractors

Posted at 22:41h in 2022, Commercial Insurance, Human Resources, Labor & Employment Law, Risk Management

By Anita Byer, Setnor Byer Insurance & Risk Did you know that Florida businesses must report individual independent contractors who are paid $600 or more in a calendar year? As of October 1, 2021, these individual contractors must be reported to the Florida Department of Revenue’s...

08 Dec EEOC Updates COVID Guidance to Address Pandemic-Related Workplace Retaliation

Posted at 14:56h in 2021, Commercial Insurance, COVID-19, Human Resources, Labor & Employment Law

By Anita Byer, Setnor Byer Insurance & Risk The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) updated its COVID-19 technical assistance to address retaliation in pandemic-related employment situations. This was prompted in part by the fact that retaliation has been the most frequently alleged form of discrimination for...

05 Nov OSHA Imposes Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Policy on Employers with 100+ Employees

Posted at 22:05h in 2021, Commercial Insurance, COVID-19, Labor & Employment Law, Risk Management, Safety

By Anita Byer, Setnor Byer Insurance & Risk The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced a new emergency temporary standard (ETS) to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. It generally requires private employers with 100 or more employees (covered employers) to develop, implement and...