- On December 4, 2023
- Human Resources Consulting
As the year draws to a close, it’s an opportune moment to review your current practices, prepare for any upcoming changes, and set your business up for success in the New Year. Handbooks should be reviewed and modified for any new legislative updates, and it’s best to review and update job descriptions to ensure employees are classified correctly based on FLSA rules and regulations.
Looking back to 2023, some Federal changes to make sure to include in your handbook and procedural updates include:
- Pregnant Worker’s Fairness Act: This act provides protections for pregnant employees, including reasonable accommodations and non-discrimination provisions.
- Expanded PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act: The expansion of the Break Time for Nursing Mothers provision ensures that nursing mothers have adequate time and private space to express breast milk during work hours.
- NLRB’s Stericycle Ruling: The National Labor Relations Board’s ruling in the Stericycle case has implications for various workplace policies, including social media guidelines and rules related to the use of cameras.
In addition, be sure to be on the lookout for the Department of Labor’s decision on their proposed ruling to increase the salary threshold for exempt employees from $684 per week to $1,059 per week. The DOL’s proposed rule was published in September of 2023, and public comments were closed in November of 2023.
Furthermore, don’t forget to check your state-specific minimum wage requirements and be proactive in ensuring your year-end data is in good order for any quarter-one reporting you may have to complete – such as OSHA and Affirmative Action.
Year-end and year-beginning can bring about a lot of compliance changes requiring a lot of administrative heavy lifting and new tasks to keep track of. If you find it challenging to stay on top of these changes during these quarters, rest assured that you’re not alone.
With ExpressLink, you have access to an HR team that can help you assist your clients with their open enrollments and ensure that employees fully understand their benefit options. Please contact your ExpressLink representative for more information.