Federal, state and local jurisdictions continue to enact laws that reshape the compliance landscape. It is crucial for your organization to anticipate and adapt to the changes that impact the state(s) you operate in. Ensure your organization is ready to tackle these new trends in HR and remain compliant.
Family leave
The California Family Rights Act (CFRA) is a recent piece of legislation that broadens the definition of “family member.” This allows employees to now take leave for grandparents, grandchildren, siblings and domestic partners.
As more states continue to expand the definition of family members, it is more vital than ever to track changes to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and new legislation like the CFRA to help ensure your business’s policies are compliant. Paycom helps clients stay informed about new legislation, and tools like Paycom’s Government and Compliance can assist in tracking hours of family leave remaining, documentation of leave and other relevant details.
Minimum wage
As state governments enact new minimum-wage requirements, it’s important to consider how these updates can affect your business. Likewise, new legislation aimed at increasing the minimum wage nationwide continues to appear at the federal level.
- Currently, Washington, D.C. and 29 states possess a higher minimum wage than the federal requirement of $7.25 per hour.
- Conversely, Georgia and Wyoming are the only states that have a minimum wage below the federal recommendation.
- Additionally, the following five states do not have a minimum wage: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee.
All other states use the federal minimum wage.
Criminal background checks
As the number of job openings continues to rise, more states are easing restrictions for candidates with criminal histories. These changes can impact the talent pool for your business. Consider using a background check system that can help you quickly assess a candidate’s education, employment and criminal history, so you can determine if they’re an appropriate fit for your organization quickly and effectively. This can also help you ensure your hiring practices are compliant with new legislation related to employment eligibility.
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment affects countless people and renders immeasurable harm to its victims in the U.S. A 2019 report by Deloitte suggests every year, sexual harassment costs businesses millions and detrimentally impacts employees’ productivity. Reducing the risk of sexual harassment requires a strong cultural awareness and consistent communication across your organization. A learning management system can help your business convey this message with up-to-date training courses. Additionally, you can track your employees’ progress to ensure this knowledge is disseminated across your organization, regardless of how many locations it has.
We’re here to help you navigate the ever-changing compliance landscape. In addition to our comprehensive HR solutions, you can explore our monthly Regulatory Roundups, webinars and more compliance-focused resources.
DISCLAIMER: The information provided herein does not constitute the provision of legal advice, tax advice, accounting services or professional consulting of any kind. The information provided herein should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional legal, tax, accounting or other professional advisers. Before making any decision or taking any action, you should consult a professional adviser who has been provided with all pertinent facts relevant to your particular situation and for your particular state(s) of operation.