American Society of Employers - Michael Burns

EverythingPeople This Week!

Copycat Lay Off or Necessary Reduction in Force?

28 March 2023

Copycat Lay Off or Necessary Reduction in Force?

Author: Michael Burns

A Stanford professor of organizational behavior makes an interesting observation about certain employer lay off practices. He believes when certain industries start laying off employees in anticipation or reaction to a perceived business downturn that in many are just copying off one another rather than reducing their workforce by necessity.

NLRB General Counsel Continues Attacks on Employer Policies

21 March 2023

NLRB General Counsel Continues Attacks on Employer Policies

Author: Michael Burns

Most employer handbooks have a policy addressing solicitations at work. One major purpose of a no solicitation policy is to prevent union organizing on an employer’s premises. Union organizers want easy access to employees and where better to reach them?

Right to Work Repeal Passes in Michigan Legislature – Goes to Governor for Signature

14 March 2023

Right to Work Repeal Passes in Michigan Legislature – Goes to Governor for Signature

Author: Michael Burns

Michigan’s Legislature moved quickly to repeal Michigan’s 10-year-old Right to Work law. Right to Work allows private sector union members to opt out of union dues payment should they disagree with the services rendered, the political position their union takes, or any other reason the union member may have for deciding the union has not earned their support. Right to Work gives thousands of Michigan union workers leverage to hold their unions accountable.
Multistate Employers Need to Keep an Eye on Their Employee Handbooks

7 March 2023

Multistate Employers Need to Keep an Eye on Their Employee Handbooks

Author: Michael Burns

Employers that have multistate locations or just employees located in another state (including remote workers) need to monitor those state and local employment related laws and regulations to ensure their employee handbooks stay up to date and in compliance.

SCOTUS Rules Highly Paid Job Is Due Overtime Pay

28 February 2023

SCOTUS Rules Highly Paid Job Is Due Overtime Pay

Author: Michael Burns

As previously reported in EPTW, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) was considering whether an oil rig worker that could earn over $200,000 per year could be classified as exempt from overtime pay. Last week SCOTUS ruled that because the job’s compensation was based upon a day rate and not a bona fide salary under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the job could not be classified as exempt and therefore must be paid overtime for any hours worked over 40 in a week.
Understanding Paid v. Unpaid Internship Rules

21 February 2023

Understanding Paid v. Unpaid Internship Rules

Author: Michael Burns

As college students end their school year, their attention may turn to internships and co-op programs. ASE’s 2023 Salaries for Co-op Students and Recent College Graduates Survey reports that 75% of respondents employ co-ops and/or interns.

U.S. DOL Issues Guidance to Employers for Remote Worker Breaks (FLSA) and FMLA Leave

14 February 2023

U.S. DOL Issues Guidance to Employers for Remote Worker Breaks (FLSA) and FMLA Leave

Author: Michael Burns

Last Thursday the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued guidance to its regional administrators and field staff on remote worker rights on breastfeeding, breaks, and Family and Medical Leave practices. The DOL guidance states the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) applies the same to remote/telework employees as those working at an office, retail outlet, construction site, or factory or other workplace.

Failing Union Pension Funds Getting Huge Influx of Money from PBGC

7 February 2023

Failing Union Pension Funds Getting Huge Influx of Money from PBGC

Author: Michael Burns

Fans of mafia cinema know the movie Casino follows the mob’s latter-day activities in Las Vegas and how they funded their Las Vegas investments through loans from various unions in the 1960’s and 70’s – a fact used by the moviemakers to show the mafia-labor union corruption back in the day. The Teamsters' connections to the mafia include Teamsters Presidents Frank Fitzimmons and of course Jimmy Hoffa leading the way. One subplot in the movie Casino was based on...
Fieger Didn't Win This Case

31 January 2023

Fieger Didn't Win This Case

Author: Michael Burns

Geoffrey Fieger is known for being a tough litigator and plaintiff’s attorney. However, his firm lost in a Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) case decided by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals last week. The case involved one of his female attorneys requesting unpaid leave to care for her 2-year-old son that she feared had contracted COVID and already suffered from respiratory illness. Before she could formalize the request and provide the necessary FMLA supporting information, Fieger...
Union Membership Drops to 10.1% of the U.S. Workforce in 2022

24 January 2023

Union Membership Drops to 10.1% of the U.S. Workforce in 2022

Author: Michael Burns

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that union membership continues its over 40-year decline. Union membership in 2022 declined to 10.1% of U.S. workforce down from 10.3% in 2021. That said, total union membership rose by 273,000 to about 14.3 million workers. But, because of the number of U.S. wage and salary workers (most non-union) grew by 5.3 million workers the reported union membership as a percentage of that total workforce continued to show a decline.

Check Your Limitations of Action Agreement – If You Use One

17 January 2023

Check Your Limitations of Action Agreement – If You Use One

Author: Michael Burns

What is a statute of limitations agreement? In the employment context, this is an agreement between the employer and employee that states the employee agrees to bring any claims against the employer within a specific period of time after employment.

Federal Trade Commission Proposes Elimination of Non-Compete Agreements

10 January 2023

Federal Trade Commission Proposes Elimination of Non-Compete Agreements

Author: Michael Burns

Last week the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) blew the proverbial lifeguard whistle on employer non-compete agreements and said they were going to order “everybody out of the pool.”

Michigan Democrats Eye Repeal of Right to Work

3 January 2023

Michigan Democrats Eye Repeal of Right to Work

Author: Michael Burns

With the Michigan Democratic party taking control of both sides of the Michigan Legislature this past fall, Democrat Legislators began calling for repeal of Michigan’s Right to Work law.

GINA Compliance Primer

20 December 2022

GINA Compliance Primer

Author: Michael Burns

GINA or the Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act has been around for well over 14 years. It prohibits discrimination by an employer against employees or applicants because of genetic information. It also prohibits employers from using genetic information when making employment decisions and restricts them from requesting, requiring, or even purchasing genetic information as well as limiting disclosure of such information if they obtain it.

Michigan Appeals Court Overturns Municipality’s Attempt to Establish Prevailing Wage “Guideline”

13 December 2022

Michigan Appeals Court Overturns Municipality’s Attempt to Establish Prevailing Wage “Guideline”

Author: Michael Burns

Michigan repealed its prevailing wage law back in 2018. Previous to that, the prevailing wage law required businesses (primarily construction) doing work for the state, counties, or local municipalities to pay their workers at wage and fringe benefits rates determined by certain entities such as counties, the National Prevailing Wage Center, or other legitimate source.

As Employer Holiday Parties Return Review Your Safety and Liability Policies and Practices

6 December 2022

As Employer Holiday Parties Return Review Your Safety and Liability Policies and Practices

Author: Michael Burns

In ASE’s most recent survey of employer holiday practices, 68% of respondents reported they will be hosting an in-person holiday event this year. For many employers and their employees this may be the first company social event held in years so let’s review employer safety and liability concerns.

5 Pitfalls to Avoid When Designing a Remote Work Policy

29 November 2022

5 Pitfalls to Avoid When Designing a Remote Work Policy

Author: Michael Burns

Since the start of the COVID pandemic employers have changed the definition of work to include working away from the office and usually (not always) in an employee’s home. To accommodate a productive and legal work from home policy, HR Morning, an HR consulting firm, identifies five pitfalls to avoid when creating your policy.

Michigan Circuit Court Reminds Employers About Voluntary Quitting and UI Benefit Qualification

22 November 2022

Michigan Circuit Court Reminds Employers About Voluntary Quitting and UI Benefit Qualification

Author: Michael Burns

Many human resources professionals have experienced the worker that for one reason or another gets fed up and just walks off the job. It’s unfortunate and disrupting but also sets the machinations of employment policy and law in motion. A recent Michigan Court of Appeals case affirms that employees that walk off the job not only voluntarily quit, but also disqualify themselves from unemployment compensation benefits.

How Michigan Legislature Changes Will Likely Affect State Employment Law

16 November 2022

How Michigan Legislature Changes Will Likely Affect State Employment Law

Author: Michael Burns

For the first time in four decades, the Michigan Democratic Party holds control of the state government. Employers have benefited from GOP control over the years as unfriendly employer legislation was bottled up in committees never to see the light of day. With the Michigan Legislature now controlled by a Democrat majority and a Democrat Governor there is not much to stop the flood of pro-labor legislation that has been held back for years.

NLRB Takes Aim at All Employer Electronic Monitoring Regardless of Business Purpose

8 November 2022

NLRB Takes Aim at All Employer Electronic Monitoring Regardless of Business Purpose

Author: Michael Burns

Employers can use a number of different methods of electronic monitoring in the workplace ostensibly to improve productivity and ensure security of the business. These methods can be:

Employer Guilty in “No Poach” Antitrust Criminal Charge

1 November 2022

Employer Guilty in “No Poach” Antitrust Criminal Charge

Author: Michael Burns

No poaching agreements are arrangements between employers where the parties agree they will not hire one another’s workers. They are also illegal. Last week a healthcare staffing company entered a plea deal with the Department of Justice that held them criminally liable for having a deal in place with an un-named competitor to not raise wages of nurses working in a county school district and to not hire nurses from one another.

Appeals Court Decision Reminds Employers that FLSA Requires Pay for ALL Hours Worked

25 October 2022

Appeals Court Decision Reminds Employers that FLSA Requires Pay for ALL Hours Worked

Author: Michael Burns

Employers often ask ASE about breaks for non-exempt salaried or hourly employees and whether they must be paid. Generally, they should be paid if the break is less than 20 minutes in duration (Sec. 785.18 Rest). Meal periods of at least 30 minutes can be unpaid (Sec. 785.19 Meal).

Understanding the Crazy Logic of the National Labor Relations Board

18 October 2022

Understanding the Crazy Logic of the National Labor Relations Board

Author: Michael Burns

Imagine, if you will, an employee calling the owner of the employing company a derogatory term to their face. The employer understandably fires the employee only to have the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) order the employer to reinstate the employee.

DOL Publishes Proposed Independent Contractor Rule

11 October 2022

DOL Publishes Proposed Independent Contractor Rule

Author: Michael Burns

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a proposed rule that adopts a six step economic realities test for determining whether a worker is an independent contractor or not. Publication of this rule will rescind the Trump-era rule narrowing the definition of independent contractor.

SCOTUS Starts New Term This Week

4 October 2022

SCOTUS Starts New Term This Week

Author: Michael Burns

The first Monday in October heralds the start of the U.S. Supreme Court’s (SCOTUS) new term each year. Last year saw Roe v. Wade and the right to abortion overturned. This resulted in the states and their voters now having to decide on that right. To date, this year the conservative U.S. Supreme Court has announced several new “blockbuster” cases it will hear that may impact employers.

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