Legally Speaking

Florida Aims to Standardize Construction Lien Waivers

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

A new bill fast-tracked by lawmakers could broadly impact how Florida roofing contractors get paid.

Understanding the New I-9 Employment Verification Forms

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

A new I-9 employment eligibility form allows opportunities for roofers to streamline operations and verify remotely

Maryland Roofing Firm Runs Afoul of Baltimore County to the Tune of $1.8 Million

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 16:48:12 -0400

A commercial roofing firm in Baltimore County is under scrutiny for inflating costs to fix a county-owned building and paying less than a minority-owned subcontractor it partnered with would have been entitled to.

I-9 COVID Flexibility Ends July 31

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 10:00:00 -0400

The flexibility allowed during the pandemic for reviewing I-9 employment forms is coming to an end.

Contractor Forced to Pay More Than $360K in Damages and Back Wages

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 16:00:41 -0400

Labor law can be confusing and may lead a company into unintentional non-compliance. Work “prep” time, like training, is technically considered "work" by the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Passing an OSHA Inspection in 2023

ralaniz@alaniz-schraeder.com (Richard Alaniz) — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0400

Within days of taking office, the Biden administration directed OSHA to double the number of compliance safety and health officers and increase safety audits across the country. Roofers should expect unannounced OSHA audits to increase in the coming months.

A Workplace Resolution For 2023

ralaniz@alaniz-schraeder.com (Richard Alaniz) — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 05:15:18 -0400

With uncertainty clouding economic forecasting, employers need to get their priorities straight or face the consequences.

VIDEO: Expect Ohio Train Derailments to Drive Regulation

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0400

If roofing contractors don’t think train derailments will have an impact on workplace safety regulations, they should think again, said Legal Insights expert Trent Cotney.

VIDEO: OSHA Guidance on Increased Fines, Civil Penalties

aisnera@bnpmedia.com (Art Aisner) — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 15:04:50 -0500

Legal expert Trent Contey weighs in on OSHA's "high-gravity" enforcement, saying he suspects contractors should expect to face more cumulative citations in the future.

Marijuana and Workplace Law in 2023

ralaniz@alaniz-schraeder.com (Richard Alaniz) — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 07:00:00 -0500

The rapid proliferation of state marijuana laws, especially the workplace protections provided by some, has made maintaining legally compliant drug policies a major task for most employers.

Dealing With Workforce Reductions

ralaniz@alaniz-schraeder.com (Richard Alaniz) — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 06:00:00 -0500

It is not too soon to at least give some consideration to how you would approach employee reductions should such a need arise.

Roofing Worker Shortages May Be Permanent

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Post-pandemic conditions, combined with economic pressures, may result in a shortage of workers in the long term.

Increasing Manager and Supervisor Pay

ralaniz@alaniz-schraeder.com (Richard Alaniz) — Sat, 01 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0400

If the Biden administration’s plans to raise the overtime salary threshold this month come to pass, it could lead to struggles for most businesses.

Supervisors and the Law

ralaniz@alaniz-schraeder.com (Richard Alaniz) — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 06:00:00 -0400

Supervisors not only train and manage employees, they are the first defense a business has to avoid legal issues with federal, state and local regulations.

The Employee Attendance Dilemma

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 05:00:00 -0400

There is no perfect solution to the growing attendance issues in the workforce, but employers do have some options to deal with absences.

Pregnant Employees and Roofing Employer Obligations

ralaniz@alaniz-schraeder.com (Richard Alaniz) — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0400

How to accommodate a pregnant employee who may have work limitations continues to vex employers. It’s an issue that, if improperly handled, could result in legal liability to employers.

Are Your Handbook Policies Legal?

ralaniz@alaniz-schraeder.com (Richard Alaniz) — Sun, 01 May 2022 07:00:00 -0400

Changes to the rules regarding workplace handbooks could create legal issues for roofing contractors if they’re not careful.

Unions – Struggling to Remain Relevant

ralaniz@alaniz-schraeder.com (Richard Alaniz) — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 00:00:00 -0400

While unions have made some small victories as of late, they appear to be struggling to regain the membership levels they once held.

Expanding Overtime Eligibility

ralaniz@alaniz-schraeder.com (Richard Alaniz) — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 00:00:00 -0500

With the potential for overtime threshold to increase under the Biden administration, it’s important for employers to know which employees would be exempt.

Weathering the Enforcement Storm

ralaniz@alaniz-schraeder.com (Richard Alaniz) — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Now is the time to take the necessary steps to ensure your roofing company is in compliance with various safety and labor laws.

Preparing for an OSHA Inspection

ralaniz@alaniz-schraeder.com (Richard Alaniz) — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Whether an OSHA inspection is triggered by an employee injury, a formal complaint, a programmed wall-to-wall inspection, or the new COVID-19 ETS, being prepared will limit potential liability avoid potential citations.

The Pandemic - Unforeseen Events and Unforced Errors

ralaniz@alaniz-schraeder.com (Richard Alaniz) — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 00:00:00 -0500

With the Biden administrating pledging to aggressively enforce workplace regulations, now is the time to make sure employers are in compliance with wage and hour practices.

Wage and Hour Audits May Be Coming

ralaniz@alaniz-schraeder.com (Richard Alaniz) — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -0500

With the Biden administrating pledging to aggressively enforce workplace regulations, now is the time to make sure employers are in compliance with wage and hour practices.

Paid Family and Medical Leave – A Democratic Priority

ralaniz@alaniz-schraeder.com (Richard Alaniz) — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -0400

Roofing contractors should pay attention to efforts being made in states and at the federal level to increase paid family and medical leave programs.

Employee Relations in Challenging Times

ralaniz@alaniz-schraeder.com (Richard Alaniz) — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 -0400

In these uncertain times, maintaining frequent communications with employees is as crucial as maintaining and growing your business.

Where Have All the Workers Gone?

ralaniz@alaniz-schraeder.com (Richard Alaniz) — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 00:00:00 -0400

As cases of COVID dwindle, workers are still reluctant to return to work, and the reasons why are varied and complex.

Problem Employees – Develop or Dismiss?

ralaniz@alaniz-schraeder.com (Richard Alaniz) — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 00:00:00 -0400

With labor shortages still prominent in the roofing industry, rehabilitating and working with problem employees may be the best solution in lieu of termination.

Why Roofing Contractors Should Write Job Descriptions

ralaniz@alaniz-schraeder.com (Richard Alaniz) — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 00:00:00 -0400

Job descriptions go well beyond helping you hire the right person. They can help with evaluation, overtime, and safety expectations.

Are Your Policies Up to Standard?

ralaniz@alaniz-schraeder.com (Richard Alaniz) — Fri, 21 May 2021 00:00:28 -0400

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has overshadowed many things, a failure to make needed policy revisions could have serious consequences down the road.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Employee Mental Health

ralaniz@alaniz-schraeder.com (Richard Alaniz) — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 09:00:00 -0400

With the pandemic causing added stress and anxiety, employers must show empathy and make available support and resources for employees suffering from mental health issues.