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Update on Proposed New Employment Laws
In a prior issue of this newsletter, we reported on two major changes that appear to be on the horizon. We wanted to update you on the status of both of these proposed new laws.First, the Department of Labor has proposed new regulations that will affect the manner in which all companies with 50 or more employees administer their obligations under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Included among these changes are regulations explaining the nuances of the new military family leave law that became effective on January 28, 2008.
As of the publishing of this newsletter, we are still awaiting the Department of Labor’s final rules. As soon as these are published, we will be scheduling a Breakfast Briefing to educate our clients who are covered by the FMLA on the new changes, forms and posters required by the new rules.
The second proposed change that appears to be headed for the November 2008 general ballot is the Ohio Healthy Families Act (HFA) as discussed on the front page of this newsletter. As mentioned previously, this is a law proposed by the union-led Ohio Healthy Families Coalition that will require every business in Ohio employing 25 or more employees to provide seven paid sick days per year.
On May 8, 2008, the Coalition and other organizations began the 90 day process of obtaining 120,683 signatures to place the new sick leave law on the November 2008 general election ballot. Because the Coalition and others previously amassed more than 154,000 signatures to reach this juncture, it is extremely likely that the requisite signatures will be obtained and that the new law will be placed on the ballot. If indeed it is on the ballot, it is generally assumed that it will be voted into law.
As with the FMLA changes, RBS will be holding a separate Breakfast Briefing to discuss the best manner in which to prepare for this new state government program.
Please visit our website at rbslaw.com and register at “Sign-up for Informative Updates” to ensure that you will receive updates and notices of the continuing legal challenges facing employers and notice of our Breakfast Briefings. Furthermore, please do not hesitate to contact Lynn Schonberg with any and all questions or concerns regarding these proposed laws.