Labor
Residential Construction: Net Job Gains Offset Losses from the Pandemic
From May through December, the number of new residential construction jobs that were created offset the total amount of jobs that were lost earlier in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Department of Labor Releases Final Independent Contractor Rule
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has announced a final rule clarifying the definition of employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) as it relates to independent contractors. While the rule will make it easier for businesses to classify workers as independent contractors, it is still unclear if it will ultimately be implemented by the incoming Biden administration.
Court Blocks Part of Labor Department’s Joint Employer Rule
On Sept. 8, 2020, the federal district court for the Southern District of New York held that the part of the Department of Labor’s Joint Employer Rule dealing with vertical joint employment was arbitrary and capricious.
Department of Labor Proposes New Independent Contractor Rule
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has announced a proposed rule clarifying the definition of employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) as it relates to independent contractors.
Nearly Half a Million Construction Workers Hired in June
After an accelerated pace of layoffs in March and April stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, construction sector hiring roared back in May and posted a slower but solid pace in June, according to the latest data from the BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS).
IRS Instructs Employers on Reporting COVID Medical & Sick Leave Wages
The Internal Revenue Service has released Notice 2020-54, which requires employers to report the amount of qualified sick and family leave wages paid to employees under the Family First Coronavirus Response Act.
OSHA Issues Guidance on Returning to Offices After Shutdowns
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) late last week issued guidance to assist employers reopening business offices and their employees returning to work during the evolving coronavirus pandemic.
Trump Signs Proclamation Suspending Certain Work Visas Through End of Year
Citing job losses stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, President Trump has issued a proclamation extending his existing ban on immigrant visas and further suspending work visas through the end of the year, including H-2B visas used by employers in the construction industry.
OSHA Reverses Course and Now Requires Employers to Track COVID-19 Cases
OSHA this week announced a significant reversal of previous policy on an employer’s obligation to record work-related cases of COVID-19 on OSHA injury and illness logs. The new requirements go into effect Tuesday, May 26.
IRS Reverses Guidance on Employee Retention Tax Credit
In response to concerns raised by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, the IRS has reversed guidance to allow employer-paid health insurance costs to be eligible for the employee retention tax credit, even if the employer has furloughed workers and is not otherwise paying wages.
