For those of you enjoying these last few days of summer, here is a quick hit guide to recent employment developments to be aware of before you rush back into the full swing of things:

Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order

The Department of Labor (DOL) announced yesterday that the final regulations implementing the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order will be published today. The regulations (which cover contractor self-reporting of labor law violations) will become effective October 25, 2016 and will be implemented in phases. Stay tuned for more on these important new regulations!

Severance Agreements

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has taken the position that severance agreements that require employees to forfeit subsequent monetary awards for whistleblowing violate Federal securities laws. In 2011, the SEC adopted a rule prohibiting any action that impedes communication with the SEC about potential securities law violations. The SEC has increasingly been reviewing severance agreements and potential violations of this rule. This culminated in two six-figure settlements announced earlier this month with companies that required employees to waive their right to any individual recovery arising from communicating with a government agency. This is language that is permitted by other Federal agencies, so companies should review their standard severance agreements to ensure that they are not running afoul of the SEC’s rules.

DOL Settles Overtime Lawsuit

It is being reported that the DOL recently settled its own decade-long lawsuit with a union for $7 million in back overtime wages owed to various white-collar employees at the DOL. Keep in mind this is the DOL, the Agency responsible for enforcing the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) along with other wage and hour laws. A quick take away is that the overtime regulations and classification of employees are complicated – even for the DOL! Perhaps this is a good time to remind you that the salary thresholds for Federal overtime exemptions are changing effective December 1, 2016. Is your company ready?

Updated Workplace Posters

The DOL has updated the mandatory workplace posters covering the FLSA and the Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) effective August 1, 2016. The revised FSLA poster and EPPA poster are available from the DOL’s website. The Federal Family and Medical Leave Act poster was also recently updated in April. This may be a good time to review your workplace posters to ensure you have all the required and up to date postings.

EEO-1 Due

For employers with 100 or more employees or Federal Government contractors with 50 or more employees and covered contracts, don’t forget to complete your EEO-1 by September 30. The survey is now open.

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