United States: New Final Rule Looks to the Place of Celebration To Define “Spouse” Under the FMLA

The U.S. Department of Labor has issued a final rule that amends what it means to be a “spouse” for purposes of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and provides clarity around when same-sex couples are eligible for this status under the FMLA. In adopting a “place of celebration” rule, and moving away from the existing “state of residence” rule, the amendment makes it clear that if the U.S. jurisdiction in which the […]

By | March 10th, 2015 ||

Canada: Three Developments That Should Be On Employers’ Radars

1. Sky’s the Limit: No More Cap on Ontario Ministry of Labour Awards

Until recently, employees had the following options to pursue claims for unpaid wages: Engage in (potentially costly) litigation or make a complaint to the Ontario Ministry of Labour and limit the maximum recovery to $10,000.

However, effective February 20, 2015, there is no more cap on awards made by the Ministry of Labour. Employees now have the ability to pursue a full claim […]

By | March 10th, 2015 ||

United States: District Of Columbia Issues Template “Wage Theft Prevention Amendment Act” Notices

The District of Columbia’s new Wage Theft Prevention Amendment Act of 2014 (the Act), which became effective on February 26, 2015, requires employers to provide written notice to each employee based in D.C. containing specific information about the employee’s terms and conditions of employment. Although employers have until late May to issue the requisite notices to current employees, new hires are entitled to the notice mandated by the law now.

In addition, the Act makes […]

By | March 9th, 2015 ||