Break time is always a source of discussion as well as headaches in terms of monitoring and tracking it. While federal law does not require any breaks, Maine law does for any shifts over 6 hours in length where there are three or more employees working at one time. Many employers provide a couple 15Read More
News and Events
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), found in the federal laws at 38 U.S.C. §§ 4301 to 4335, provides reemployment rights to returning members of the uniformed services. This law applies broadly: “employer” is defined as any person, institution, organization, or other entity that pays a salary or wages for work performedRead More
Social Media, Personnel Policies, and the NLRA
Do you have a policy that prohibits “inappropriate discussions”? that prohibits “disparaging remarks”? that prohibits posting the company’s logo on line? that states that employees cannot discuss information about other employees on line? If so, you may have a policy that violates the National Labor Relations Act… These issues are gaining more public attention asRead More
The New Maine Test for Independent Contractors (vs. employees) in 2013
As of January 1, 2013, a new law went into effect that combines the test for independent contractor versus employee for workers compensation, unemployment coverage, and wage and hour. There are still a number of employers who are not aware of this law change or even the rules around independent contractors generally. It is easyRead More
One Member’s Bias Can Taint a Government Vote
Maine Law Court Issues an Important Employment Discrimination Case In Walsh v. Town of Millinocket, 2011 ME 99, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court (Alexander, J.) held that the discriminatory animus of one member of the board of selectmen was sufficient to permit the jury to find that the town had retaliated against its former recreationRead More
The “Business Risks” Exclusions in Commercial General Liability Insurance
Most businesses carry commercial general liability (“CGL”) insurance intended to cover such things as a customer’s getting injured falling down on the premises. However, insurers do not cover so-called “business risks” under a CGL policy. The most common business risk is a risk that the business does not do its job competently and must repairRead More
Powers of Attorney Critical for Young Adults
The law makes 18 the age of majority, so parents of adult children, even though they may still be in college or partly dependent upon us, have no legal standing to carry out or assist them with their legal or business affairs. Nor do the parents have clear legal authority regarding matters of health care,Read More
