In this month’s issue:

• Federal DOL “FairPay” Overtime Rules – effective August 23, 2004
• America’s Workplaces are Becoming Smoke-Free!
• School is Out…Youth Employment Laws to Follow
• Recent Federal and State Changes
• Spanish Posters
• Custom Posters

“FairPay” Overtime Laws…Alert! No Posting Required!
FEDERAL OVERTIME REGULATIONS EFFECTIVE AUGUST 23, 2004

For your convenience, we are providing you with the following general information on the Exemption from Minimum Wage and Overtime Pay provided by Section 13(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act as defined by Regulations, 29 CFR Part 541. The FLSA requires that most employees in the United States be paid at least the Federal Minimum Wage for all hours worked and overtime pay at time and one-half the regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 hours in a workweek.

To qualify for exemption, employees generally must meet certain tests regarding their job duties and be paid on a salary basis at not less than $455 per week. In order for an exemption to apply, an employee’s specific job duties and salary must meet all the requirements of the Department’s regulations. These salary requirements do not apply to outside sales employees, teachers, and employees practicing law or medicine. Exempt computer employees may be paid at least $455 per week on a salary basis or on an hourly basis at a rate not less than $27.63 an hour

Note: When the state laws differ from the Federal FLSA, an employer must comply with the standard most protective to employees.

“FAIRPAY” WEBSITE
The Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division has set up a FairPay Web site with information regarding the Department's new "white collar" rules that strengthen overtime protections for millions of workers. Several “Fact Sheets” are available for to help you with these new regulations. Visit the DOL website.

AMERICA’S WORKPLACES ARE BECOMING SMOKE-FREE!
States Protect Workers from Second-Hand Smoke

Do you know what your state posting laws are?

One by one, states across the America are passing “No Smoking” legislation to protect employees in the workplace and areas open to the public from the effects of “secondhand smoke”, AKA Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS). Rhode Island has just joined California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts and New York in passing statewide smoke-free bans. Many other states have specific areas where smoking is prohibited. Some states have specific regulations as to the type of “Smoking” or “No Smoking” signs required. Some must be a certain size while others have specific font sizes and wording in order to comply with the mandatory posting regulations. CPC is dedicated to keeping you are in compliance with all “posting” requirements. To help you stay in compliance, we are continuously researching and producing state specific posters required.

While Rhode Island’s new smoking ban takes effect on March 31, 2005, the NEW Massachusetts’ smoking law became effective July 1, 2004.

We currently have the following Smoking/No Smoking Signs available:

Generic “No Smoking” poster
Product #74710 “No Smoking” poster (large size)
NOTE: Letters on this posting are 1" and will meet the required font size of states requiring the 1" minimum letter size. Size: 11” x17”, bilingual, color, $10.95
order online  

Product #74725 “No Smoking” poster (small size)
8.5” x11”, bilingual, color, $9.95

Generic “Smoking Permitted” poster
Product #74724 “Smoking Permitted” poster
8.5” x11”, bilingual, color, $9.95

California “No Smoking” posters: California workplaces can post CPC’s Generic “No Smoking poster (see description above) to meet the California No Smoking laws.

Massachusetts No Smoking poster has specific size, color and verbiage requirements. Massachusetts no smoking laws became effective on July 1, 2004. The “mandatory to post” posters are to be posted at the entrance to all workplaces, restrooms and break rooms.
Product #21702 @ $13.95 11” x 17”, color, laminated front and back for durability

Oregon “Smoke-Free” poster has specific size, color and verbiage requirements. Smoking is prohibited in most enclosed areas of employment. The Posters are to be posted at the entrance to all workplaces, restrooms and break rooms.
Product #37605 @ $13.95 11” x 17”, color, laminated front and back for durability

New York “Smoking Permitted” poster has specific size, color and verbiage requirements. Smoking is prohibited in most enclosed areas of employment. New York workplaces can post CPC’s “generic” No Smoking poster 11” x 17” poster (see description below) to meet the no smoking posting requirements.
Product #32700 (bilingual) @ $10.95 - 11” x 17”, color, laminated front and back for durability

SCHOOL’S OUT!
Are You Aware of the Youth Employment Laws?

Summer means Teen Workers will be seeking employment for the summer months and perhaps continue working part-time when school resumes. Each year millions of teens obtain employment to provide opportunities for learning important life skills and acquire hands-on experience in the workplace. Employers have an opportunity to hire young workers who are eager to learn and earn! The Federal government and many of the states are promoting the “opportunity” to hire youth employees. Perhaps you use them to help fill the gaps of summer vacations or to work on special projects, whatever the reason, you need to know the laws concerning Youth Employment.

Federal and State laws mandate youth employment regulations to protect youth in the workplace and protect your company’s liability and fines. These fines vary from state to state, but usually are from $1,000 up on first “violations”. These rules effect hours of employment, meal breaks, rest periods, and prohibited duties depending on age group. Providing safety orientation and training are the two most important responsibilities an employer has concerning the hiring young workers. Employers must comply with both federal and state laws. When the federal and state standards are different, the rules that provide the most protection to youth workers will apply.

Let us help you stay in compliance with federal and state child labor laws…many states that have child labor laws also have specific state postings for Child/Teen Labor. If a specific poster is required, CPC provides that posting either on the your State All-on-One™ poster or as a separate poster. If you have questions regarding your state’s child labor postings, please call one of our knowledgeable Customer Service Representatives, who will be happy to assist you in staying in compliance.

Recent FEDERAL and State Changes:

• Federal Family and Medical Leave
  
• Federal Employee Polygraph Protection Act
  
• Federal OSHA poster
  
• Federal Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law
  
• California effective 1/2004 (Note: Currently the Workers’ Compensation posting is being revised to reflect the law changes in SB899–Workers’ Compensation Reform Bill) PREORDER TODAY!
• Louisiana effective 12/2003
  
• Illinois effective 1/2004
  
• Maine effective 12/2003 (If you have our Maine 9/2003 poster with color postings you are still in compliance with Maine’s labor laws)
  
• Michigan effective 5/2004 (currently waiting release of revised posting)
  
• New Jersey effective 2/2004
  
• New York effective 2/2004
  
• North Dakota effective 12/2003
  
• Oregon effective 1/2004
  
• Rhode Island effective 1/2004
  
• Vermont effective 1/2004
  
• Washington effective 1/2004
  
• West Virginia effective 7/2004 Revised Unemployment posting

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SPANISH POSTERS – Does Your State Require Spanish Posters?
We have added more posters in Spanish! We now have a total of fifteen states.
Many states require employers with Spanish-speaking employees to post the State and Federal labor laws in Spanish. Others highly recommend posting in Spanish to ensure that your employees understand their rights and the labor laws. To fulfill the needs of many employers, CPC has available Spanish posters for the following states:

CUSTOM POSTERS
Many larger companies, associations, and PEO’s are taking advantage of CPC’s exclusive “Custom Poster Program.” This program allows organizations to incorporate their logo, company colors, Mission Statement and even some custom verbiage into the design of the poster. Posters can be specially designed to specific size requirements, horizontal or vertical orientation, and with heavy lamination, etc.

For more information, please contact your Compliance Poster Representative at
1-800-817-7678 or at with customer service online.