COSGRAVE LAW / Legal Ez

Beginning on July 1, 2018, employers must start withholding Oregon’s statewide transit tax from the wages of Oregon residents (regardless of where the work is performed); and (2) wages of non-Oregon residents who perform services in Oregon.  The tax is one-tenth of one percent (.001) if the employee’s wages.  While it is not imposed on […]

It used to be that restaurants could not require that tips be pooled and distributed between tipped and non-tipped employees (e.g. servers and kitchen staff).  Congress has changed that Employers can now require tip-pooling IF… Each participant employee is paid the full minimum wage before tips (that mean no tip credits!) AND The employer/manager/supervisor does […]

With the recent rallies of white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and other hate groups happening around the country, it’s important for employers to understand their rights and legal obligations when it comes to hate-speech in the work place, and why having a zero-tolerance policy for discriminatory and racist speech is important for more than just moral and […]

You may have read about the turmoil BOLI caused by suddenly changing its interpretation of overtime laws governing employees in manufacturing facilities.  If you’re not aware of the issue, check out our most recent Business and Employment Law Newsletter. In  an nutshell, for decades BOLI had been telling manufacturers to pay either the higher of […]

An employee who regularly is absent, arrives late or leaves early can be a headache for a manager.  Oftentimes the manager gets fed up with the employee and either writes them up or fires them for being unreliable.  However, employers must tread lightly before deciding to discipline or discharge an employee who misses work for […]

A Texas federal judge entered a nationwide injunction today blocking the U.S. Department of Labor from implementing its controversial rule increasing the salary threshold for its “white collar” overtime exemptions.  The change was set to take effect December 1, 2016.  Employers for now can put on hold any salary increases as this battle winds its […]

Starting December 1, 2016, the minimum salary requirement for overtime-exempt employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act increases from $23,660 annually ($455/week) to $47,476 ($913/week).  If the new requirement is not met, then the employee will longer be considered exempt from overtime.  To comply, employers should review each of their overtime-exempt designated employees to determine: […]