Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938

• Improper classification of workers can be costly to employers, who don't have easy-to-use, reliable resources to assist.
• The conversational tool, which is part of VirgilHR's comprehensive onboarding module, offers prescriptive guidance to help employers easily classify workers, and ensure compliance.
• "Improper classification of workers can be costly to employers, but they currently lack an extensive resource that helps to navigate the complexity of labor laws," said Jocelyn King, Founder and CEO of VirgilHR.
• VirgilHR's state-specific tool offers real-time, accurate information that ensures employers make the right worker designation for their jurisdiction.

• GAITHERSBURG, Md., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- VirgilHR , the technology company removing risk from HR compliance, announced the release of a chat-based tool for employee onboarding that allows organizations to properly classify employees as exempt or non-exempt during onboarding.
• "Across the country, labor laws are changing just as fast as companies are hiring new employees," said Jocelyn King, Founder and CEO of VirgilHR.
• "Our chat-based tool provides an easy-to-use interface that helps HR leaders move through onboarding quickly, while accessing real-time information straight from legal experts.
• Through VirgilHR's smart chatbot, HR leaders can now access a three-step process to ensure compliance, while making the choice simple.

• The Company raised its revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, net cash provided by operating activities, and Adjusted Free Cash Flow guidance ranges and updated its net income guidance range for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 ("fiscal year 2023").
• RUTLAND, Vt., July 27, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling and resource management services company, today reported its financial results for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2023.
• Net income was $5.5 million for the quarter, down $(12.3) million, or down (69.2)%, from the same period in 2022.
• The Company raised guidance for fiscal year 2023 by estimating results in the following ranges:
  The Company updated certain guidance for fiscal year 2023 by estimating results in the following range:
  Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow related to fiscal year 2023 are described in the Reconciliation of Fiscal Year 2023 Outlook Non-GAAP Measures section of this press release.

• A movement to weaken American child labor protections at the state level began in 2022.
• Many conservatives and business leaders have long argued, based on a combination of ideological and economic grounds, that federal child labor rules aren’t necessary.
• Expanding child labor can encourage kids to drop out of school and jeopardize young people’s health through injuries and work-related illnesses.

Long-brewing battle

• U.S. law also does not treat 16- and 17-year-olds as adults.
• The federal government deems many occupations to be too hazardous for anyone under 18.
• Three years after President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld it in the U.S. v. Darby Lumber ruling, which toppled a related precedent.

Challenges began during the Reagan administration

• In 1982, President Ronald Reagan sought to ease federal protections to allow 14- and 15-year-olds to work longer hours in fast-food and retail establishments and to pay young workers less than the minimum wage.
• A coalition of Democrats, labor unions, teachers, parents and child development groups blocked the proposed changes.
• Today, the Foundation for Government Accountability, a Florida-based think tank, is drafting state legislation to strip child labor protections, The Washington Post has reported.

Iowa and Arkansas

• In our view, Iowa has the most radical new law designed to roll back child labor protections.
• Teens as young as 16 can now serve alcohol in Iowa restaurants, as long as two adults are present.
• Arkansas has scrapped those safeguards against child labor exploitation.

Federal vs. state laws

• Doesn’t federal law preempt state laws?
• Both federal and state laws govern the employment of minors, and all states have compulsory school attendance laws.
• Federal laws set a floor of regulations in youth employment that cover maximum hours, minimum ages, wages and protections from hazardous jobs.
• Having child labor laws on the books at both the federal and state levels is only half the battle.

Construction sites?

• Some states are considering legislation that directly conflicts with federal child labor standards on hazardous occupations.
• For example, a bill Republican Minnesota state Sen. Rich Draheim introduced would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to work in or around construction sites.
• Strong opposition from politicians, child advocacy groups, education associations, labor unions and the public has defeated some of these efforts.
• Georgia Republicans introduced a bill that would have eliminated work permits for minors, but they withdrew it without a vote.

Taking aim at federal rules

• There are some national efforts to weaken – or strengthen – child labor rules as well.
• Dusty Johnson, a South Dakota Republican, seeks to revise federal regulations to permit 14- and 15-year-olds to work until 9 p.m. on school nights and up to 24 hours per week during the school year.
• And several Democrats have introduced measures to strengthen federal child labor restrictions, especially in agriculture.