Tag Archives: compliance
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What does the OSHA ETS mean for your business?
Posted on 11.09.2021
What does the OSHA ETS mean for your business? On November 5, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) requiring all private employers with 100 or more employees to implement either requirement that employees be vaccinated against Covid-19 or be subject to weekly testing and wear of a … Continue reading
Posted in COVID-19, Compliance, HR Risk Mitigation
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Updated FMLA Forms
Posted on 09.19.2018
An updated set of Family and Medical Leave Act (FLMA) forms for employers has been released by the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division. The only revision to these forms is an updated expiration date. The previous forms expired on August 31 of this year, but now, the updated forms will be valid through August 31, … Continue reading
Posted in Compliance
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Fair Labor Laws: Establishing Employee Rights in America
Posted on 08.31.2018
According to the United States Department of Labor, “The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy.” Fortunately on Labor Day, we don’t just celebrate … Continue reading
Posted in Compliance
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How Well Do You Know The ADA?
Posted on 08.14.2018
The Americans with Disabilities Act celebrated its 28th birthday on July 26, 2018. The goal of this Act, which was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, is to ensure that all Americans have access to good, family-sustaining employment. In honor of this momentous occasion, we at Achilles Group would like to help … Continue reading
Posted in Compliance
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Compliance Update – I-9 Breaking News!
Posted on 07.26.2017
USCIS released the latest I-9 form (Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification) today, July 17, 2017. The changes are summarized below: Name update: “Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices” changed to “Immigrant and Employee Rights Section”. Deleted “the end of” from the phrase “the first day of employment.” List C addition of “Consular … Continue reading
Posted in Compliance
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HR Support for a Growing Company
Posted on 07.14.2016
When Proximity Systems reached out to us, they were looking for support in different HR functions. We were excited to be able to provide them with all of the support they were looking for. “We are happy that we chose Achilles to help fill key positions for us. Our legal compliance and employee relations are … Continue reading
Posted in Other
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New Overtime Regulations: Final Rule Released
Posted on 05.19.2016
The Department of Labor has published its final rule on new overtime regulations. This update to the Fair Labor Standards Act increases the annual salary threshold for exempt status from $23,660 to $47,476, effective Dec. 1, 2016. Any employee making less than $47,476 per year ($913 per week) will have to be paid time and … Continue reading
Posted in Compliance, HR Risk Mitigation
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New FMLA Poster and Employer Guide Now Available
Posted on 05.10.2016
The Department of Labor has issued a new FMLA Notice poster and Employer Guide. Employers are not required to update their FMLA Notice posters at this time; the new version simply features a more reader-friendly layout. All FMLA-covered employers are required to display the FMLA Notice poster prepared by the Department of Labor in a … Continue reading
Posted in Compliance, HR Risk Mitigation
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Continue Using the Current I-9 Form
Posted on 04.11.2016
The current Form I-9 expired on March 31, 2016. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has said employers should continue using the expired form for employment eligibility verification until further notice. Employers must complete Form I-9 for all newly hired employees to verify their identity and authorization to work in the U.S. Visit I-9 Central for … Continue reading
Posted in Compliance
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Creating a Bond with Remote Employees
Posted on 04.04.2016
With more employees working remotely than ever before, it’s important to make sure everyone feels like a part of the team. Research has consistently found that an engaged workforce is a more productive and profitable workforce, so how can you create a bond with remote employees? Create a “virtual water cooler.” When employees work remotely, … Continue reading
Posted in People Performance
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Preparing for New Overtime Regulations
Posted on 03.02.2016
UPDATE: On May 18, 2016, the Department of Labor released its final rule on new overtime regulations, raising the salary threshold for exempt status to $47,476. Click here for more information. The Department of Labor is expected to publish final overtime regulations in July. The proposed update to the Fair Labor Standards Act would increase … Continue reading
Posted in HR Risk Mitigation, Compliance
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Davis-Bacon Act – Contractor and Subcontractor Compliance
Posted on 10.29.2015
Are you familiar with the Davis-Bacon Act? The Davis-Bacon Act is a federal law that applies to contractors and subcontractors performing work on federal contracts or District of Columbia contracts in excess of $2,000 for the construction, alteration, or repair, including painting and decorating of public buildings or public works. Davis-Bacon Act contractors and subcontractors … Continue reading
Posted in Compliance, HR Risk Mitigation
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The 411 on EEO-1
Posted on 07.24.2015
What is an EEO-1 Report? An EEO-1 Report is a compliance survey mandated by federal regulations. It is a representation of your employee population based on race/ethnicity, gender and job category. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) requires employers who meet the compliance threshold to report this information annually between July 1, 2015 and September … Continue reading
Posted in Compliance, HR Risk Mitigation
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Regulations for FMLA in Accordance to the Same-Sex Marriage Ruling
Posted on 07.09.2015
Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage solidifies DOL’s final ruling on FMLA leave On Friday, June 26, the United States Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage is a fundamental right under the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution and that the Constitution requires (i) all states to permit marriage between same-sex couples, and (ii) all states … Continue reading
Posted in Compliance, HR Risk Mitigation
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New OSHA Recordkeeping Rules Enforced Now
Posted on 03.23.2015
Two Rule Changes for 2015 1. OSHA has expanded the list of severe work-related injuries that all covered employers must report to OSHA (even employers exempt due to size or industry). The revised rule retains the current requirement to report all work-related fatalities within 8 hours and adds the requirement to report all work-related in-patient … Continue reading
Posted in Compliance
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Upcoming New Overtime Rules
Posted on 03.10.2015
Since 2004 the Department of Labor (DOL) has not changed its Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) definition of a white-collar “exempt” management employee. Under the current FLSA definition exempt managers are not eligible for overtime pay. This definition is about to change and may require thousands of employers to reclassify which employees can still qualify … Continue reading
Posted in Compliance
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Discrimination Charges are Costly!
Posted on 02.09.2015
Each year over 90,000 U. S. employers will get a notice of charge of discrimination from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). If that happens, are you prepared to provide an effective response? Who in your organization has the experience to respond? It’s no surprise that many employers are not prepared for this situation … Continue reading
Posted in Compliance
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Minimum Wage and Your Company
Posted on 01.19.2015
Although minimum wage in Texas has not changed since 2009 (it is $7.25, which is the Federal Minimum Wage or FMW), companies with operations in multiple states should carefully watch minimum wage developments in order to remain in compliance. Many states and some localities (e.g., San Francisco) now have minimum wages above the FMW and many … Continue reading
Posted in Compliance
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Convicted Felons and Your Company
Posted on 12.30.2014
Does your company have a blanket policy in place that prohibits employing any convicted felons? Does your company conduct pre-employment background checks that include a history of felony convictions? If you answered yes to either — you could be putting your company at risk of violating EEOC’s Title VII Civil Rights Act of 1964. Many … Continue reading
Posted in Compliance
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Implications: Workplace Pregnancy and The Supreme Court
Posted on 12.05.2014
Peggy Young worked for UPS in Landover, Md. and became pregnant in 2006. She told her supervisors that her doctor had recommended she not lift packages heavier than 20 pounds and later in her pregnancy, 10 pounds. Her request for lighter duty was turned down because it was inconsistent with UPS policy. Young took an … Continue reading
Posted in Compliance