Employment Law, Business Litigation & Personal Injury Legal Updates

Although Arizona generally follows federal wage law, state minimum wage laws are more favorable, providing a higher minimum wage, an extended statute of limitations for minimum wage violations, and the potential for employees to recover triple damages on claims for...

Many Arizona workers, such as wait staff, bartenders and housekeepers are considered “tipped employees.”  State and federal wage laws allow employers to pay “tipped employees” a reduced hourly wage, below the applicable minimum wage. Recall federal minimum wage...

Arizona minimum wage laws provide both a higher minimum wage than federal law and an extended time to bring a claim. Most important, Arizona minimum wage law violations can result in triple damages, along with an award of costs and fees. Minimum wage violations...

The City of Flagstaff's Minimum Wage Law, passed in 2017, set a schedule of annual increases. Effective January 1, 2021, the minimum wage jumps to $15.00 an hour for all covered employees, those who worked or are expected to work 25 hours or more in any...

In accordance with A.R.S. § 23-363(B), the Industrial Commission of Arizona has adopted a resolution increasing the minimum wage from $12.00 to $12.15. The increase, effective January 1, 2021, was determined based upon the increased cost of living. Posters, which...

The news has warned:  “A 'tidal wave' of COVID-related workplace lawsuits could be on the way”.  We previously discussed a possible wave of wage and hour claims and protected leave claims and the steps to take now: COVID-19 Related Employer Liability Claims...

The economic fallout from Covid-19 may include employer liability lawsuits. The Senate, and several states, have sought to enact protective legislation, shielding employers from the anticipated Covid-related claims.  It is unclear whether this legislation will...

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has revised its definition of “Healthcare Provider” in response to a recent court decision striking several provisions of the DOL’s final rule implementing the emergency family leave and paid sick leave provisions...

A recent New York federal judge’s ruling that the Department of Labor (DOL) exceeded its authority in four areas of the paid leave requirements of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) has created further uncertainty.  The ruling addressed the DOL’s...

Uncertainty abounds with the reopening of schools for in-person learning. Many schools will likely continue, at least for the foreseeable future, with distance learning. This means working parents with school-aged children, and their employers, must comply with the...

The DOL has issued several recent press releases, including South Florida Truss Manufacturer Pays Back Wages..., regarding employer violations of the paid leave provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA). Employers should use this as a cautionary...

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently posted notice providing employers guidance on reporting Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA) and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLEA) wages paid pursuant to the Families First Corona Virus Response Act...

The Department of Labor has provided updated Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) forms for notification of eligibility for, certification of, and designation of leave under the Act. The new forms are available on the DOL’s website.  Although employers are...

The DOL has updated its poster to clarify the paid leave entitlements section of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The corrected poster now reads “up to 12 weeks of paid leave.”  The prior language had 10 weeks....

The $2 trillion bill is designed to stimulate the economy in the wake of Covid-19. Here are some highlights: Paid Sick and FMLA Leave: Addressing the paid leave provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Act (FFCRA), the Act confirms that employees...