Category
HR Compliance
New I9 Form in 2025; Current Version Still Valid
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has made minor changes to Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. The new revised Form I-9 with an edition date 01/20/25 and an expiration date 05/31/2027 is now available for download, while multiple previous editions remain valid until their respective expiration dates. Specifically, th...
Venezuela TPS Status: Handling Expiring Employment Authorization Cards
It has not been easy for employers to make sense of the fast-moving immigration regulation changes and court cases. One topic creating lots of HR questions is Venezuelans who were granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under the Biden Administration. The Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized to designate a foreign country for TPS due to......
Guidance on Unlawful DEI -Related Discrimination Released by EEOC and DOJ
In March 2025, two technical guidance documents were released by the EEOC and DOJ that emphasize that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives must comply with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, sex, or other protected characteristics. The DOJ and EEOC jointly issued a docum...
How Long Should Employers Keep Former Employee Personnel Files?
Maintaining accurate and secure employee records is a crucial responsibility for employers, but the question of how long to keep former employee personnel files can be tricky. Employers need to strike a balance between regulatory compliance, company policy and operational needs. The amount of employee turnover can also impact the decision. HereR...
Minimum Salary Not Increasing, 2024 Overtime Rule Overturned
A federal judge in the U.S. District Court in Texas has blocked the Department of Labor (DOL) rule that increased the salary thresholds for the new overtime pay regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Bottom line – the proposed increase in salary required to qualify for a salaried exempt position will not take......
What Employers Need to Know About the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) took effect on June 27, 2023, and represents a significant increase in the legal protections given to pregnant workers. This new law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would impose an und...
Crafting Custom Employee Handbooks: Affordable Solutions for Small Business
Creating an employee handbook is a crucial step for any business, regardless of its size or industry. It sets the tone for company culture, outlines policies, and ensures that employees are well-informed about their roles and responsibilities. At Consultstu, we specialize in crafting customized and comprehensive employee handbooks that cater to the...
What can Employers Do When Employees are Legally Using Opioids?
Fortunately for employers, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued technical assistance documents that address issues concerning the employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as it relates to the use of opioids by employees. Although not legally binding on the public, there is valuable information for emplo...
Non-compete Agreements to be Banned, Limited Exceptions
In late April, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) issued a controversial new rule that bans all non-compete clauses for every worker nationwide across all industries – with very limited exceptions. The rule, if not stopped by a lawsuit, will take effect on or about September 1, 2024. After the effective date, employers also have...
Recent DOJ Fact Sheet for Employers Using Commercial Electronic Form I-9 Software
In December 2023, the Department of Justice (DOJ) published a fact sheet that discussed what employers should keep in mind if they use private sector commercial or proprietary software to electronically complete, modify, or retain Form I-9s. Although this document refers to these products collectively as Form I-9 software programs – it also a...
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