Employment expert explains the recent DOL decision
The U.S. Department of Labor’s recent decision on overtime extends to 1.3 million U.S. workers. The number is much lower than what the Obama administration tried to accomplish during President Obama’s tenure in office.
“Since 2016 when President Obama signed an overtime law which made employees who earned less than $47,000 a year eligible for compensation, many small business owners were fearful that they would not be able to keep pace with new requirements for overtime compensation. When a Texas judge blocked that ruling, it offered a small reprieve until President Trump took office,” says Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and employment compensation expert.
In the following years, both Republicans and Democrats have struggled to agree on an overtime solution, until revealing their new decision last week.
Previously, workers were automatically entitled to overtime pay only if they earned $23,660 or less a year, says Wilson. But, starting on Jan. 1, 2020, that salary ceiling will be raised to $35,568.
The 
Last month, ICE officials detained hundreds of undocumented workers in Mississippi. When the raids (which took place in 7 different cities and 6 different work sites) were complete, 680 employees were in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.
After shocking crimes of sexual assault came to light thanks to the #MeToo movement, many employers have been inspired to rededicate themselves to making their workplaces safer and more equitable for men and women. But, starting January 1, 2020, new changes to sexual harassment policies will require all companies to pay closer attention to this very important issue.
Employers in Illinois will be required to make changes to their hiring practices in the near future. Starting 
Aside from understanding the zero-tolerance expectation, employees also need to know what to do when violence occurs in the workplace. “What are your emergency guidelines? You’ve got an employee handbook. You probably have fire drills, tornado drills — what happens in that type of emergency?” Employco USA President and Employment Expert Rob Wilson said. And what happens when someone fires a gun in the workplace, he asked: “What are your security protocols? Where do people go? Who contacts emergency services?”
In an effort to establish 
Another tragic outbreak of mass shootings has left many Americans reeling. As people struggle to cope with the aftermath of this senseless violence, it is important for employers to ensure that their workplaces feel safe and supportive for all workers. Rob Wilson, employment expert and President of Employco USA, says “One in seven Americans say they don’t feel safe at work. But the good news is that small steps can help to build feelings of security and community in your workplace.”