On January 14, 2021, Ontario announced the start of a workplace health and safety inspection blitz of big-box stores in certain cities. A week later, it expanded this program to additional business sectors.
On January 19, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released an opinion letter analyzing the application of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) creative professional exemption to journalists.
The DOL recently issued a letter responding to a food manufacturer’s request for an opinion on whether certain distributors of the manufacturer’s perishable products are employees or independent contractors under the FLSA.
On January 19, 2021, Oakland, California’s city council enacted an emergency ordinance extending and modifying its existing emergency paid sick leave (EPSL) ordinance.
On January 19, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor issued four new opinion letters. The final Wage and Hour opinion letter issued by the DOL under the Trump administration, FLSA2021-9, addressed two issues related to the trucking industry.
On the last full day of the Trump administration, the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) clarified that staffing firms can qualify as “retail or service establishments” under FLSA section 7(i).
On January 18, 2021, the Trump administration officially lifted widespread travel restrictions barring the entry of foreign national travelers physically present in certain countries within 14 days prior to entry.
