The North Dakota Employer’s Blog: The U.S. Department of Labor Makes Announcement on the Independent Contractor Rule

Did you know… The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that it is withdrawing the “Independent Contractor Status Under the Fair Labor Standards Act” (FLSA) final rule issued under the previous administration on January 6, 2021. As anticipated, the new administration re-examined the previous rule and has withdrawn it after receiving approximately 1,000 comments in…
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The North Dakota Employer’s Blog: Congress Approves the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

Did you know . . .  On March 10, Congress approved the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (signed into law by President Biden on March 11). The Act contains several items of interest for employers, including: An extension of the tax credits for voluntarily providing paid sick and family leave under the Families First…
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The North Dakota Employer’s Blog: Independent Contractor or Employee?

Did you know….Determining who is an “independent contractor” versus “employee” will be a hot topic item in 2021. The U.S. Department of Labor announced a new rule on January 6 that will likely be reexamined by the incoming administration before implementation. Re-examination may make it more difficult to claim independent contractor status. Stay tuned for…
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The North Dakota Employer’s Blog: What Now? Stepping Away from the Edge

Einstein once said, “Failure and deprivation are the best educators and purifiers.”  As we close the book on 2020 and look forward to finally . . . finally . . . making it to 2021, the moment seems right to pause.  Although Covid is far from over and social unrest over the election has shaken…
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To require vaccinations or not? That is the question.

As a trying 2020 comes to an end, we see a glimmer of hope in the beginning of the new year with the release and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.  With the vaccine likely becoming widely available in the coming months, many employers are wondering:  Can I require that my employees get a COVID-19 vaccination? …
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LGBTQ Rights – What the Landmark Supreme Court Ruling Means for Area Employers

By: Lisa Edison-Smith On June 15, 2020, in Bostock v. Clayton County, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the federal civil rights law ban on employment discrimination “based on sex” applies to discrimination against individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.  In a surprise 6-3 decision written by conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch, the Court…
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