The hiring of brand new employees is a big step for small businesses—it marks a significant growth milestone for your company, as well as some extra responsibilities for your company with regard to finances and management.
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Tips for Hiring Independent Contractors
There are many types of industries in which hiring independent contractors is a big part of a company’s business model. There are some benefits to working with independent contractors, but as with any type of hiring practice, it’s important to make sure you abide by all the federal and territorial rules and plan out the hiring in a way that protects your company.
With this in mind, here are some tips for hiring independent contractors to your company.
What to Include in Your Employee Handbook
Employee handbooks or manuals are frequently used in corporate settings to provide an overview of employee responsibilities and rights, as well as certain company regulations. The purpose of these manuals is twofold: to ensure all employees are aware of their rights and obligations, and to protect the company in the event of labor lawsuits.
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U.S. Department of Labor Investigating Wage Issues in the U.S. Virgin Islands
The United States Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) recently paid a visit to St. Croix and St. Thomas to investigate some reported wage issues, as well as to offer compliance assistance with regard to recovery efforts still ongoing after Hurricanes Maria and Irma.
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Supreme Court Approves Use of Class-Action Waivers by Employers in Arbitration Agreements
On May 21, 2018, the United States Supreme Court ruled that employers may require employees to enter arbitration agreements that waive their rights to seek class-action claims against the employer. The split, 5-4 decision was authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch, rejecting the position held by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that any of these types of class-action waivers violated employees’ rights to engage in “concerted activities” with regard to terms and conditions of employment, a protection afforded by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).
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Issues to Cover in Your Employee Handbook
Having an employee handbook is a great way to introduce new employees to your company and the various policies you have in place.
There are several issues you are required by law to cover in your handbook. For example, you must have family medical leave policies listed in the handbook under the Family Medical Leave
Questions You Should Never Ask a Job Applicant
Employment law doesn’t just dictate the ways you can and cannot discriminate in your business hiring practices—it also gives some guidelines about the kinds of questions you can and cannot ask job applicants. Therefore, anyone responsible for hiring for your business should familiarize themselves with some of these basic tenets of employment law to ensure
Common Examples of Wage and Hour Issues That Go to Court
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) collects about $250 million per year in back wages for American workers. These judgments come in a variety of different categories.
If you own or operate a business, it’s important to be aware of these issues and how they can affect employers. Below are some of the most common
Frequently Asked Questions on Leave and Time Off Laws
Business owners in the U.S. Virgin Islands and throughout the United States must have a thorough understanding of wage and time laws and regulations. Below are some answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we receive on this issue.
Do I have to provide family and medical leave as a small business owner?
Avoid These Key Mistakes When Responding to an EEOC Complaint
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is a federal regulatory agency that exists to protect employees or job candidates from discrimination based on certain protected characteristics, including age, gender and race. There are many laws the EEOC considers when analyzing cases. Of paramount importance is Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which