In the past, when corporations committed regulatory violations the penalties were often not severe. It used to be the case that the company would pay a fine and then business could continue as usual. Over the last decade, however, criminal statutes and sanctions against businesses have begun to resurface from within the federal regulations. This allows these violations to be criminalized and corporations to be prosecuted in an environment that was formerly largely thought of as regulatory. White collar criminal defense attorney Barry N. Covert spoke to the Buffalo Law Journal about the way these regulations are now being applied and how they could affect businesses going forward. The full story is available on the Buffalo Law Journal website.
New Ruling Halts Federal Overtime Rule
Many employers have been keeping a close watch on news regarding a new federal overtime rule since it was announced some time ago. A Texas Federal Court’s ruling this week has put at least a temporary halt on this rule before it has even been implemented. The rule, which was supposed to go into effect on December 1, could have extended overtime pay to about 5 million workers across the country. The Texas court ruled in favor of a preliminary injunction on this rule, which prohibits the Department of Labor from enforcing it. Diane M. Perri Roberts, an attorney who represents clients in business litigation and employment matters at Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria, spoke to the Buffalo Law Journal about the decision and what it means for employers going forward. The full story is available on the Buffalo Law Journal website.
When running a business, regardless of the industry, determining how you are liable for your employees’ wages is an integral part of the operations. As an employer, you are required to know if any of your employees are working and receiving benefits somewhere else in addition to your company. Joint employment, wherein two or more employers employ the same person, can complicate the issue of liability. Two companies that are joint employers are each responsible for things such as employee compensation and hours. The standard for joint employment was changed last year in the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)’s decision in the case of Browning v. Ferris, which expanded the range of claims for which corporations and franchisers could be liable. Labor and employment attorney Robert L. Boreanaz spoke to the Buffalo Law Journal about the changes and how they could affect businesses. The full story is available on the Buffalo Law Journal website.