Posts tagged compliance
How Many Employees Trigger Coverage Under Federal Employment Laws?

Whether a business has one part-time employee or is a bustling corporation with hundreds on the payroll, there are employment laws that the business must follow. Unfortunately, many business owners are unaware of which laws apply or the fact that as a business grows, it will be subject to new employment laws.

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New York’s “Freelance Isn’t Free Act” Becomes Effective May 20, 2024, and Brings Significant Changes to Independent Contractor Arrangements

On November 22, 2023, Governor Hochul signed into law the New York Freelance Isn’t Free Act, which mandates written contract, payment, record keeping, and anti-retaliation requirements on businesses that hire freelance workers. The Act is similar to New York City’s Freelance Isn’t Free law that was enacted in 2017, however, the State version is broader in scope and applies statewide. It becomes effective on May 20, 2024.

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Understanding the Difference Between HR Consultants and HR Attorneys: Which One Does Your Business Need?

A Human Resources (HR) consultant and an HR / employment law attorney are two distinct roles within the field of human resources, and they serve different functions. Yet many small business owners often confuse the two roles. This post will aim to clarify the distinction for anyone who is confused by the difference between the two roles.

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The New Beneficial Ownership Reporting Rule: A Guide For Small Businesses

Attention, small and medium-sized businesses! The Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Rule (BOI Rule) of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the U.S. Treasury (FinCEN) takes effect in January 2024. The BOI Rule will bring significant changes to company transparency and reporting obligations. FinCEN has released a detailed FAQ about the new regulation. We have provided a summary below with information businesses should be aware of concerning the BOI Rule.

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Five Ways to Minimize the Potential Legal Liability of Terminating an Employee

In our last blog post, we discussed things an employer should (and should not) do when hiring an employee. Unfortunately, every business owner who hires employees will likely have to terminate at least one at some point. Terminating an employee is a sensitive process that requires careful consideration of fairness, legality, and the workplace environment. Below are five things’ businesses should do when faced with the challenging task of letting an employee go.

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New Jersey Continues its Push to Combat the Misclassification of Workers as Independent Contractors

Utilizing independent contractors in New Jersey can be very risky given New Jersey’s broad definition of employee and the significant penalties imposed for the misclassification of employees as independent contractors. Recently, New Jersey continued its push against worker misclassification with the enactment of a package of bills that expand the power of the New Jersey Department of Labor (NJDOL) to enforce state wage, benefit, and tax laws. The new bills also enhance the penalties for employers that misclassify workers as independent contractors.

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New York Amends its Employment Discrimination and Harassment Laws Yet Again

After significantly expanding its sexual harassment laws last year, New York has again amended the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL). This new legislation builds upon last year’s sexual harassment reforms and drastically changes the law of workplace harassment and discrimination in New York.

Key takeaways for employers in New York are:

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New Jersey Employers Face Numerous Changes to Employment Laws in 2018 and 2019

Since 2018, under Governor Phil Murphy’s Administration, New Jersey has been actively expanding its existing employment laws and enacting new ones. The constantly evolving and changing landscape of employment laws presents potential difficulties and risks for New Jersey employers who must comply with an increasingly complex human resources compliance environment. We have written about many of these changes, which include, the following:

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Five Steps to Protect Your Business When Terminating Employees

Terminating an employee is something most, if not all, business owners will need to do at some point. While employment in the United States is "at-will," anti-discrimination and other similar laws do make some reasons for termination unlawful. Employers that do not properly plan for terminations expose themselves to needless claims. Fortunately, there are steps that employers can take to minimize the risk of facing a wrongful termination claim.

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Ten Reasons to Provide Anti-Harassment Training to Your Employees

Providing anti-harassment training to employees is a key component of implementing an effective anti-harassment policy.  Yet many small and medium sized employers fail to provide necessary anti-harassment training to their managers and staff.   This is a mistake that could potentially expose a company to significant legal liabilities, even if the company has a written anti-harassment policy. 

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