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HVBF Monthly Meeting - Human Resources
Roundtable Host: Broadmead Attending: Sam Almengor, Apex Professional Staffing Eileen Edwards welcomed those attending the Roundtable. Each person introduced themselves and their company. Eileen then introduced Jay Fries of Kruchko & Fries, Counselors At Law specializing in management representation in matters of the law involving Employment. Jay led our discussion today on Employment Law Update. The sluggish economy combined with force reductions provides fertile ground for an increase in discrimination charge activity. With jobs hard to find, laid off workers are more likely to seek economic redress for their circumstances. Equal Opportunity cases have seen a recent acceleration after the drop following initial strong activity at the inception of the law. Race still is the most common charge with sex offenses a close second. Jay briefed the Roundtable on the proposed changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act. These will affect the wage and hour tests. The long test will be eliminated and the wage amounts for qualification will be increased. For companies with more than 100 employees the EEO filing form will now include a Bi-Racial category. Jay then commented on Maryland case law of recent interest from a hand out outlining the cases. A surtax on corporate payments to the Unemployment Trust Fund can be expected for 2004 because of the drain on reserves caused by the economy. Jay can be reached at jfries@kruchoandfries.com. Telephone 410-321-7310. Lauren Lutz was thanked for inviting the Roundtable to meet in the Board Room at their beautiful facility at Broadmead. Walter Schneider of Lighthouse Consulting was welcomed
as our newest member of the Forum. This was the first meeting for Kelly Zysk of Ultimate Staffing. |