Isis Freeman is a student at Harvard Law School.
The Department of Labor has once again delayed the implementation of the Obama Administration’s “Fiduciary Rule,” previously slated to take effect on April 10. According to Forbes, the DOL has responded to President Trump’s February 3 executive order to review the rule by postponing the rule’s implementation until June 9. The comment period on issues raised by President Trump remains open until April 17.
Law360 reports that U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel denied conditional certification to a nationwide class of Papa John’s International Inc. delivery drivers in Durling, et al. v. Papa John’s International, Inc., Case No. 7:16-CV-03592 (CS) (JCM) (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 29, 2017). The drivers alleged that the company failed to sufficiently reimburse them for the cost of their vehicle expenses. The court reasoned that the absence of any evidence of common policy that violates the FLSA is enough for employers to defend their pay practices, noting that evidence of underpaid workers at few dozen corporate stores and two franchisees is insufficient to certify a class comprised of more than 3,300 restaurants.
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCC”) released its 2017 Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) Benchmark of 6.7%. Federal contractors use this figure to evaluate their veteran hiring efforts. This year’s benchmark is slightly lower than 2016’s Benchmark of 6.9%.
As noted on the blog, five women have received settlements totaling $13 million following accusations of sexual harassment by Bill O’Reilly. The revelation sparked an online conversation under the hashtag #droporeilly under which an outpouring of women have described years of workplace mistreatment. The New York Times shares some of these narratives.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
February 21
In today’s News & Commentary, Trump spending cuts continue to threaten federal workers, and Google AI workers allege violations of labor rights. Trump’s massive federal spending cuts have put millions of workers, both inside and outside the federal government, in jeopardy. Yesterday, thousands of workers at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs research office were […]
February 20
President Trump's labor secretary pick retreats from some of her pro-labor stances during Senate confirmation hearing and Lynn Rhinehart discusses implications of NLRB and other agency removals.
February 19
In today’s news and commentary, Lori Chavez-Deremer’s confirmation hearing, striking King Soopers workers return to the bargaining table, and UAW members at Rolls-Royce authorize a strike. Lori Chavez-Deremer, President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Labor, faces a Senate confirmation hearing today. Chavez-Deremer may face more No votes from Republicans than other Trump cabinet members. Rand […]
February 18
In today’s news and commentary, an air traffic union examines the impact of federal aviation worker firings, Southwest Airlines lays off 15% of its corporate workforce, and the NLRB’s General Counsel withdraws Biden-era memos Following the Trump Administration’s dismissal of hundreds of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), a […]
February 17
President Trump breaks campaign promise to support workers and Utah’s governor signs a law banning public sector collective bargaining
February 16
Unions fight unlawful federal workforce purges; Amazon union push suffers setback in North Carolina.