Monday, December 31, 2012

Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) Changes Effective Jan. 1, 2013

     Beginning January 1, 2013, there will  be some changes to FCRA.  Employers who utilize background checks will have to use a new "Summary of Consumer Rights" form to notify job applicants and employees of their rights under FCRA.

     Under the new changes, employers will have to make clear that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is not the agency that applicants and employees should contact regarding FCRA questions, but rather the newly formed Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

     Before any pre-adverse action is taken against an employee based on an employee's background check, an employer must provide the new "Summary of Consumer Rights" to the employee.  Also, the employer must provide this notification before obtaining a background check if the report includes information from personal interviews conducted by a consumer reporting agency.

If you are the victim of a FCRA violation, please contact Ambuter Law.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

SSA Employee Reprimanded for Farting

     An SSA Employee was recently handed a 5 page written reprimanded for "conduct unbecoming of a federal officer" --- for farting.  The written reprimand details over 60 occurrences over 17 days of the "unbecoming conduct" in the agency's Baltimore office.

     The manager supposedly wrote in the reprimand, “I asked if you could make it to the restroom before releasing the awful and unpleasant odor.  I informed you that the smell from your being flatulent disturbed your co-workers and disrupted the work environment."

     According to the employee, his flatulence was linked to medical conditions.  He provided documents to his manager, who in turn said, "nothing that you have submitted has indicated that you would have uncontrollable flatulence. It is my belief that you can control this situation.”

     Apparently the employee's flatulence issue was causing other employees to not want to help him with work.  The employee offered to turn on a fan to help the stench, to which his manager said, "turning on the fan would cause the smell to spread and worsen the air quality in the module.”

     The employee is being represented by his Union.

Please click here for the full article.

If you are the victim of discrimination in the workplace, please contact Ambuter Law.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Minimum Wage on the Rise

     Beginning on January 1, 2013, Florida's minimum wage will increase from $7.67 to $7.79 per hour, which is a 1.5% increase.  Florida requires a new minimum wage calculation each year on September 30.  This is based on the Consumer Price Index.  If calculation is higher than the federal rate, which is currently $7.25, then the state's rates take effect the following January.  Beginning in January, "tipped employees" should be receiving a new pay rate of $4.77 per hour.

     Make sure that if you are not receiving the higher minimum wage amount in January, that you immediately inform your employer.


Please contact Ambuter Law for all of your employment law needs.


Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Wage Protection Ordinance

     Broward County has become the second county in Florida to adopt a wage protection ordinance.  Originally called a "Wage Theft Ordinance," it has now been referred to as a "Non-Payment of Earned Wages" ordinance. 

     A non-payment of wages occurs when an employee is not paid wages that he/she is legally owed.  It occurs in different forms such as unpaid overtime, not being paid at least minimum wage, working during meal breaks, misclassification of employees as independent contractors, forcing employees to work off the clock, altering time cards or pay stubs, illegally deducting money from employees’ pay checks, paying
employees late, or simply not paying employees at all.

     What this ordinance does is that it allows a second avenue for residents of Broward County, fairly similar to federal and state laws, to bring an administrative action for the recovery of unpaid wages in excess of $60,000.00 or more.  Also, under this ordinance, it defines an "employer" without regard to size, gross volume of sales, or business transacted.  However, there is an exemption for the United States, the State of Florida, and any Indian Tribe.

     More and more counties in Florida, and across the nation, are recognizing these "wage theft" or "non-payment of wages" ordinances. 

If you are the victim of unpaid wages, please contact Ambuter Law