Irina P'SimerCOVID-19: Working From Home and Data Security As teleworking becomes more prevailend during the COVID-19 pandemic, we must be diligent about not loosing sight of cyber threats.
Irina PSimerFAQ: Voting LeaveWith Election Day around the corner, it is important for employers to understand their rights and responsibilities regarding employees taking time off to vote. Voting leave laws vary significantly state to state and is important for employers to understand the differences. Below are some of the questions we are most frequently asked, and Ohio specific answers. What are my obligations as an employer? State law governs employer obligation when it comes to employee voting entitl
Irina PSimerEmployers Get Ready: New Overtime RulesOn September 24, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a final rule to make 1.3 million American workers newly eligible for overtime pay. The new rule goes into effect on January 1, 2020. The three most important changes are as follows: raising the “standard salary level” from the currently enforced level of $455 per week to $684 per week (equivalent to $35,568 per year for a full-year worker); raising the total annual compensation requirement for “highly compensated e
Irina P'SimerDOL News: Hourly Employees and Travel TimeMost businesses that have employees have asked me questions regarding when and how to compensate hourly employees for travel time. Do we pay for commute to work? Commute to customer's location? Do we pay for time on the airplane? While the law has not changed, recently the Department of Labor that provides clear guidance for some of the most commonly occurring scenarios. The opinion does not address overtime payment, so it is important not to overlook that factor. #employee #
Irina P'SimerFederal Legislation on Marijuana?No one can deny that there the discussion on legalizing marijuana has swept the nation. More and more states are passing legislation authorizing either recreational or medical use, however, marijuana continues to be illegal under Federal law. Employees and employers in the states in which marijuana is legal must closely review their policies and procedures to ensure that there is a clear understanding of the employer's expectations and potential consequences for failing to ab
Irina P'SimerEmployer Risk in the Remote Employee WorldThe trend of more American employees working remotely has been on the rise for years, earning and maintaining a spot in the hot topics category. A growing number of employees and employers view remote working as broadly beneficial, with data showing that remote workers are more productive and that the additional flexibility can help to close the gender gap. Recent polls show that flexible scheduling and work-from-home opportunities have been found to play a major role in an e