For many construction workers in Colorado, wages are paid in cash, the hours are long, there are no breaks or overtime, and often pay is short. The problem has become so prevalent that unions representing construction workers have begun a campaign in Colorado and across the West to stop the practice. In addition, the U.S. Department of Labor has launched a nationwide wage fraud investigation involving 22 states, including Colorado.
Community Health Centers in Colorado are struggling to recruit and retain doctors, but they could catch a break if a new bill in the state Legislature becomes law. House Bill 1047 would speed up the process for putting out-of-state doctors to work by entering into an interstate agreement, or compact.
According to the National Employment Law Project, more than 100 cities and counties have adopted fair chance hiring laws that cover public employees. But only 14 have policies that extend to private employers and none of them were in the South. Until now. In 2008, Austin and Travis County adopted ban-the-box policies for public employees. Last month, the Austin City Council voted 8-2 to ban the box for private employers as well.
This week marks a year since the city of Baltimore erupted in violence and looting following the death of Freddie Gray, a young black man who died in police custody. The uprising brought national attention to stark inequality in the city. More than half the adults in the mostly black neighborhood where Gray grew up are unemployed. For a lot of people in impoverished neighborhoods, a history with the justice system can be a barrier to finding work. One program is trying to turn that around.
On March 30, five players from the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team filed a claim with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), alleging that the U.S. Soccer Federation discriminated against them by paying them significantly less than it pays players on the U.S. Men's National Team...The players' claim has drawn national attention, and it should remind all employers to be mindful of the necessary elements of a claim of pay discrimination.
The Obama administration tightened rules Monday for private insurance plans that administer most Medicaid benefits for the poor, limiting profits, easing enrollment and requiring minimum levels of participating doctors.
Accidents happen, and if they're someone else's fault, you can go to court to try to get compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you win, though, the pot of gold you receive may be considerably smaller than you expect: Your health plan may claim some or all of it as reimbursement for money it spent on your medical care. But a recent
Supreme Court decision gives consumers ammunition to push back.
