Employment laws in the US are constantly created, changed, and reversed, which makes keeping up hard to do. A few major changes are listed below, but to ensure complete compliance, talk to your HR department or employment lawyer.
New Form I-9 – Effective January 22, 2017
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published the updated Form I-9 in November, and it became mandatory for use beginning January 22, 2017. Form I-9 verifies the identity and employment authorization of people hired for employment in the United States. ALL U.S. employers must complete an I-9 form for each employee within three days of the hire date.
In other changes, Section 1 now asks for “other last names used” instead of simply “other names used,” and the new form is easier to complete on a computer as it includes drop-down lists and calendars.
The new Form I-9 can be filled out online at: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-9.pdf.
FLSA Overtime Regulations
The proposed FLSA overtime regulation changes that were to go into effect December 2016 are still under injunction with no further word regarding implementation or changes.
Minimum Wage
Many states raised their minimum wage either at the beginning of 2017 or have plans to increase it during the year. To ensure you are compliant with the minimum wage laws in your state, visit the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division at Minimum Wage by State.
Paid Sick Leave
Although there are no federal laws requiring paid sick leave, some states require employers to provide a certain amount of paid sick leave per hour worked. Currently the following states have paid sick leave laws: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington, DC.
Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Washington are all in the process of considering some amount of paid sick leave.