News and Updates
Category: DOL
Department of Labor Ramps Up Audits
The Department of Labor (DOL) will once again be on the prowl for both FMLA and Wage & Hour violations in the coming year – especially in the logistics and warehousing industries. Employers across all industries saw an uptick of audits back in 2014, when DOL made good on their promise to increase the frequency of investigations. There was a notable decline in these audits during the last administration, but expect to see them start ramping back up – and be ready! We’ve often been told by employers, “We just let employees take what they need when they need it.” This usually means, “We don’t really track unpaid leave.” If you’re a small, private employer offering FMLA-adjacent leave out of the goodness of your heart - no harm, no foul. If you’re a public employer, or a private employer with more than 50 full time employees within a 75 mile radius – that lax approach won’t cut it when the government comes calling. Here are some good questions to help determine how compliant your business is: Do FMLA regulations apply to your organization? Do you have a written FMLA policy in place? Does the policy address/define: eligibility requirements, call-in procedures, employee obligations & rights, medical certification process and outside work restrictions while on leave? Do you have legally compliant FMLA forms in place? Is your FMLA poster displayed somewhere prominen
OSHA 300A Submissions
It’s time for employers to submit and post their OSHA 300A. Here are some pointers to guide you through the process. More resources can be found on OSHA.gov. Electronic Submission: Go to https://www.osha.gov/injuryreporting/ Click the red “Launch injury tracking application” button on right and follow the instructions Details: Who - Establishments with 250 or more employees that are currently required to keep OSHA injury and illness records, and establishments with 20-249 employees that are classified in certain industries with historically high rates of occupational injuries and/or illnesses. Visit the OSHA website for list of “certain industries”. What - Covered establishments must electronically submit information from their OSHA Form 300A. When - In 2022, covered establishments must submit information from their completed 2021 Form 300A by March 2. How – OSHA provides a secure website that offers three options for data submission. First, users can manually enter data into a web form. Second, users can upload a CSV file to process multiple establishments at the same time. Last, users of automated recordkeeping systems will have the ability to transmit data electronically via an API (application programming interface). View the CSV instructions Download a CSV file template Download a CSV sample file View the API technical
