smthomas

Sharon Thomas

About Sharon Thomas

Sharon Thomas is a senior editorial director with Staffing Industry Analysts. She can be reached at smthomas (at) staffingindustry (dot) com.

DOL sued over IC rule reversal

|May 26th, 2021|

Four business groups sued the Labor Department over its “arbitrarily, capricious” delay and subsequent reversal of Trump’s independent contractor final rule.
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US Supreme Court turns back Uber appeal; driver case lives on

|May 19th, 2021|

The US Supreme Court on May 17 declined to hear what would have been its first foray into the proper classification of gig economy workers. Uber had appealed a ruling that revived a case against it.
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H-1B wage-hike rule delayed 18 months

|May 19th, 2021|

The US Department of Labor announced May 13 an 18-month delay to the rule published in the final days of the Trump administration affecting the wages for certain workers on H-1B, H-1B1 and E-3 non-immigrant visas.
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Biden sets $15 minimum wage for federal contractors

|April 28th, 2021|

President Biden issued an executive order raising to $15 the minimum wage for work done on federal contracts. The wage currently is $10.95.
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Visa update: Homeland Security increases H-2B allotment for temporary seasonal labor

|April 28th, 2021|

The Department of Homeland Security last week announced a supplemental increase of 22,000 visas for the H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Worker program; 6,000 of these visas will be reserved for nationals of the Northern Triangle countries of Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.
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Washington state mandates temp training, buyer/provider coordination

|April 21st, 2021|

A new law in Washington state, meant to prevent injuries to temporary workers, requires increased communication between staffing agencies and worksite employers to close safety and training gaps, Washington State Wire reports.
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IC Classification roundup: AB 5 not retroactive; US Supreme Court to weigh in on Uber case?

|April 14th, 2021|

A California company successfully argued the state’s ABC test should not have applied to its IC classification case. Uber asks the US Supreme Court to enter driver classification fray.
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Trucking firm to recoup payout to injured contractor

|April 7th, 2021|

A liability policy’s employee exclusion does not apply to contractors, a jury determined. Therefore, the insurer must reimburse a trucking company the $2 million paid out to an injured IC, Reuters reported.
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Maine buyer faces penalties in H-2A visa investigation

|March 31st, 2021|

A tomato grower has paid $245,351 in back wages and $92,114 in civil money penalties for violating labor provisions of the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Visa Program and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act.
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Massachusetts’ Uber, Lyft driver suit proceeds

|March 31st, 2021|

A Massachusetts judge denied a bid to dismiss a state lawsuit challenging Uber and Lyft classification of drivers as independent contractors instead of employees, Business Insider reported.
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