From the Providence Business News   The General Assembly has approved legislation mandating equal pay for women and minorities by updating the Equal Pay Act of 1963.   The legislation, which is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Daniel J. McKee, seeks to close gaps in Rhode Island’s existing wage discrimination laws.   The R.I. Department of Labor and Training can bring legal action against an employer for an inequity claim. Employers liable for a civil penalty would face fines of up to $5,000.   But the changes also include some protections for employers, including identifying when it is OK to pay an employee differently than...

Adopted from an Article by Dan Niepow   There is a real labor shortage. It's unclear where, exactly, all the workers have gone, but experts are divided on what will motivate them to return.   A drive on just about any highway reveals dozens of “Now hiring” signs from desperate employers, some offering hundreds of dollars in signing bonuses. Manufacturers, restaurant chains, agribusinesses, and health care organizations are among the many companies that say they’re in dire need of workers. “Help Wanted” signs hang from windows of independent restaurants, cafés, auto repair shops, and countless other businesses.   It’s a remarkable about-face from a year ago,...

Adopted from an Article by Partridge, Snow & Hahn, LLP   On On July 6, 2021, Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee signed Pay Equity legislation (the “Act”) (H 5261A, S 0270A) into law. The Act is a broad piece of legislation that applies to all employers. While the Act does not go into effect until January 1, 2023, given the penalties and damages available under the Act, and the safe harbor for employers to eliminate those penalties and liabilities, employers should be familiar with the Act and the safe harbor and other requirements well in advance of the Act’s effective date.   As originally drafted,...

Adopted from Axios, Bryan Walsh, Author of Future   A New Industrial Revolution May be Hitting the Reset Button on Work   The endgame of the pandemic is giving both employers and workers a chance to create a more humane relationship — both in the office and out of it. The big picture: Companies need workers, but many employees aren't ready to go back to the way things used to be. A hybrid setup could provide the best possible way forward, if both sides are willing to give.   What's happening: As the most acute stage of the pandemic draws to a close, American companies face a new challenge:...