Post by Moses on Mar 29, 2004 20:10:24 GMT -5
Well, I see the politicians in Maryland passed a law to help themselves:
Genetic testing, paid leave get states' attention
By: Carol Kleiman
Tribune Media Services POSTED:06/01/2003
State legislatures pass employment laws every year which affect every worker and every employer. And last year was no different.
"States enacted important labor legislation in 2002 covering a variety of employment standards," according to Richard R. Nelson, state standards adviser at the U.S. Department of Labor.
"Minimum-wage rates were increased in a number of states, a first-in-the-nation law provided for paid family and medical leave . . . and legislation was enacted to protect the jobs of workers returning from active military duty."
Writing in the Monthly Labor Review, Nelson noted that trends that had begun earlier in a few states now are spreading. "Additional states placed limits on mandatory overtime for nurses, banned employment discrimination based on genetic testing, provided immunity to employers from liability for furnishing information on job performance, provided job protection for victims of crime and sexual assault, and addressed issues of workplace violence and security."
For example:
- Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington placed limits on mandatory overtime for nurses.
- Hawaii, Utah and Virginia banned employment discrimination based on genetic testing.
- And a law that advocates hope will become a national trend: California became the first state to provide paid family and medical leave.
But what many workers likely want to know is which states increased the minimum wage rate last year, making it higher than the federal rate of $5.15 an hour. Nelson, who works in the division of external affairs, wage and hour division of the Employment Standards Administration in Washington, reports that Alaska ($7.15 an hour), Connecticut ($6.70) and Oregon ($6.90) raised their rates in 2002. Currently, 43 states have minimum wage laws.
(In April, the Illinois Senate voted to raise the present minimum wage of $5.15 an hour to $6 starting in September and to $6.50 in September 2004. At press time, similar legislation was under consideration in the House.)
New employment laws in Illinois affected a relatively small pool of workers: Contractors based out of state must make the required wage records available in Illinois. Also, in regard to private employment agencies, the Day Labor Services Act was changed to Day and Temporary Labor Services Act and its coverage expanded.
What other states did last year:
Alabama: A resolution was adopted in response to the LTV Steel Corp.'s filing for bankruptcy. It urges LTV officials to honor all contractual obligations, including continued health insurance coverage for its employees and former employees. The assets of LTV were later purchased by International Steel Group, which is not paying health insurance for retirees.
Connecticut: Job protection was given to employees who are crime victims and must go to court.
Maine: The donation of an organ by an employee was added to the list of reasons allowed for the use of family and medical leave.
Maryland: Employees may now contribute to political action committees through payroll deductions.
Wisconsin: Workers called to duty in the National Guard or state defense force will have re-employment rights and benefits under state law.
Genetic testing, paid leave get states' attention
By: Carol Kleiman
Tribune Media Services POSTED:06/01/2003
State legislatures pass employment laws every year which affect every worker and every employer. And last year was no different.
"States enacted important labor legislation in 2002 covering a variety of employment standards," according to Richard R. Nelson, state standards adviser at the U.S. Department of Labor.
"Minimum-wage rates were increased in a number of states, a first-in-the-nation law provided for paid family and medical leave . . . and legislation was enacted to protect the jobs of workers returning from active military duty."
Writing in the Monthly Labor Review, Nelson noted that trends that had begun earlier in a few states now are spreading. "Additional states placed limits on mandatory overtime for nurses, banned employment discrimination based on genetic testing, provided immunity to employers from liability for furnishing information on job performance, provided job protection for victims of crime and sexual assault, and addressed issues of workplace violence and security."
For example:
- Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington placed limits on mandatory overtime for nurses.
- Hawaii, Utah and Virginia banned employment discrimination based on genetic testing.
- And a law that advocates hope will become a national trend: California became the first state to provide paid family and medical leave.
But what many workers likely want to know is which states increased the minimum wage rate last year, making it higher than the federal rate of $5.15 an hour. Nelson, who works in the division of external affairs, wage and hour division of the Employment Standards Administration in Washington, reports that Alaska ($7.15 an hour), Connecticut ($6.70) and Oregon ($6.90) raised their rates in 2002. Currently, 43 states have minimum wage laws.
(In April, the Illinois Senate voted to raise the present minimum wage of $5.15 an hour to $6 starting in September and to $6.50 in September 2004. At press time, similar legislation was under consideration in the House.)
New employment laws in Illinois affected a relatively small pool of workers: Contractors based out of state must make the required wage records available in Illinois. Also, in regard to private employment agencies, the Day Labor Services Act was changed to Day and Temporary Labor Services Act and its coverage expanded.
What other states did last year:
Alabama: A resolution was adopted in response to the LTV Steel Corp.'s filing for bankruptcy. It urges LTV officials to honor all contractual obligations, including continued health insurance coverage for its employees and former employees. The assets of LTV were later purchased by International Steel Group, which is not paying health insurance for retirees.
Connecticut: Job protection was given to employees who are crime victims and must go to court.
Maine: The donation of an organ by an employee was added to the list of reasons allowed for the use of family and medical leave.
Maryland: Employees may now contribute to political action committees through payroll deductions.
Wisconsin: Workers called to duty in the National Guard or state defense force will have re-employment rights and benefits under state law.
