Tens of thousands plan to strike and protest on 11/29 in a nation-wide protest to raise the minimum wage.
Author Archives: wjpnola
Contratista Independiente v. Empleado
El código laboral, la ley que protege a los trabajadores en California, solo aplica a los empleados, no a las contratistas independientes. ¿Qué es un empleado?
Louisiana nursing home operator pays nearly $120K in penalties, back wages, damages to resolve violations following federal investigation – United States Department of Labor
NEW ORLEANS – Two U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigations found that a nursing care operator with multiple southern Louisiana facilities violated the minimum wage, overtime and record-keeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Workers, individuals and families needing home care, and employers can find more information about the wage laws that apply by clicking here.
Welders, pipe fitters along Gulf Coast to be paid $516K in back wages – United States Department of Labor
NEW ORLEANS – Two Gulf Coast staffing agencies have agreed to paid 353 workers nearly $516,000 in back wages after U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigators found they classified employees incorrectly as independent contractors and mislabeled wages as per-diem reimbursement for expenses never incurred.
Bipartisan support for stopping misclassification of workers
As we close in on election day, one thing seems clear: no matter what their political affiliation, voters want an end to corporations’ manipulations to boost profits and the pay of their top officers at the expense of working people.
In a survey conducted by the National Employment Law Project (NELP), 84% of those surveyed — Democrats and Republicans across age groups — disapproved of corporations misclassifying employees as “independent contractors.” “[P]olling shows that 7 in 10 voters don’t trust employers to treat their employees fairly. A majority of voters believes that working hard isn’t enough anymore, because companies simply aren’t loyal to their employees. The strategy of hiring workers as contractors, even if lawfully done, is still offensive to most of us. By 78 percent to 12 percent, voters feel that workers are better off as direct employees than as independent contractors.”
WJP is working with the La. Workforce Commission to make sure workers and employers understand what it means to be an independent contractor. Most workers are employees and should be treated that way.
Misclassification: the basics
Check this list to find out if you should be an employee or independent contractor.
All you need to know about Labor Day
Labor Day: What it Means
Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.
Our Department of Labor has a lot of interesting information about the origins of Labor Day, its meaning and celebrations, and other information about the history of the labor movement and the protection of American workers’ rights. Check it out while you enjoy the long weekend.
INFORMATION FOR WORKERS AFFECTED BY THE FLOODING IN LOUISIANA
DO YOU HAVE WORK ISSUES ARISING FROM THE LOUISIANA FLOODS IN AUGUST 2016?
UPDATE: La. Workforce Commission has updated information about filing for unemployment benefits http://www.laworks.net
Call (504) 861-5571 to speak to someone at the WJP’s Wage Claim Clinic.
Has your employer failed to pay all or part of your wages? Workers with a wage claim should make an appointment for services at our Wage Claim Clinic. Leave a message on the Clinic’s phone line — (504) 861-5571 or send an email to wccnola@gmail.com. Someone will follow up with you as soon as possible. Please be prepared to answer some questions about your situation. Be prepared with the full name and address of the person who owes you wages. Clinic staff members, law students, and volunteers use this information to help determine how best to handle your claim. The first step will be to help you to draft a demand letter and send it to the employer who owes you wages.
Feel free to pass this information and this website address co-workers, friends and family to learn more about your rights in the workplace!
Employment claims can also be filed with:
The Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division enforces certain wage claims, overtime and minimum wage violations, and prevailing wage claims.
Local: (504) 589-6171 (extension 300 for Spanish) OR http://www.dol.gov/whd/The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigates workplace discrimination charges, based on things like race, gender, national origin, age, and disability status.
Local: (504) 595-2843 04 (800) 669-4000 OR http://www.eeoc.gov/ The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) helps to assure a safe and healthful workplace. Workers are entitled to working conditions that do not pose a risk of serious harm.(225) 298-5458 OR http://www.osha.gov/The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) protects workers from adverse actions taken by their employers for working together with other employees to better their working conditions.
Local: (504) 589-6361 OR http://www.nlrb.gov/The Louisiana Workforce Commission is where to file claims for unemployment or workers compensation at (225) 342-3111 or http://www.laworks.net
For more information on unpaid wages and a sample demand letter, please visit this page created by Southeast Louisiana Legal Services.