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In 2016, Arizona employers began adhering to a new legal compliance landscape, which changed wage and hour requirements drastically. There are now additional employer obligations. Below is a snapshot of what you need to plan for now:
- Changes by December 1, 2016
- Minimum Wage Increases starting January 1, 2017
- Paid Sick Time Starting July 1, 2017
- New Form I-9 Starting January 22, 2017
What you need to know
1. New DOL Regulations
Most employers have been inundated with information about the DOL Regulations that set new salary basis adjustments. These Regulations go into effect December 1, 2016. They increase the salary threshold for white-collar worker exemptions from $23,660 to $47,476 per year (or $913 per week). Employers can count 10% of nondiscretionary bonuses toward the salary, as long as the bonuses are paid at least quarterly. This salary jump impacts a significant number of Arizona employers.
Because of the impact to employers, two lawsuits have been filed seeking to enjoin the new rule in whole or in part. Pending a ruling on either of these cases, employers should continue to prepare to comply with the new overtime rule. So, make sure you are looking at your exempt employees carefully and making a sound business determination about how to pay them going forward. If you need assistance, we are happy to help navigate the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) requirements.
Update November 23, 2016: a federal court judge entered a preliminary injunction placing the new DOL Overtime Regulations on hold. This is only a temporary remedy intended to preserve the status quo while the court considers a final ruling. It is unknown when a final decision will be issued. For employers, it could mark some reprieve from the significant increase of the salary threshold from $23,660 to $47,476. We will continue to monitor this case and provide updates with any new rulings. You should still have a contingency plan in place if the court reverses its temporary decision. For now, the new DOL Regulation will not go into effect on December 1.
2. Arizona Minimum Wage Incremental Increases
For Arizona businesses engaged in interstate commerce that generates more than $500,000 in gross sales annually, get ready for incremental minimum wage hikes starting January 1, 2017. A new Arizona law, the Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act (the “Act” or “FWHFA”), obligates a majority of Arizona employers to provide wages consistent with this chart:
Plan right now to comply with these changes. There is little time to budget and implement.
3. Arizona Paid Sick Time
Following the adoption of paid sick time by several other states, Arizona passed the Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act on November 8, 2016. This act requires employers to provide mandatory paid sick time (“PST”). Employers must create a policy before July 1, 2017 regarding PST that details how PST will be treated. PST must be compensated at the employee’s normal rate of pay. PST accrues at a rate of no less than one hour for every 30 hours worked. Exempt employees are treated as if they work 40 hours per week.
Accrual Caps: For employers with 15 or more employees, employees can accrue a maximum of 40 hours of PST per year. For employers with fewer than 15 employees, the maximum an employee can accrue is 24 hours of PST per year. Employers can set a higher limit.
Using PST: Employers are required to allow employees to use their accrued PST in either hourly increments or the smallest unit of time in the payroll system, whichever is smaller. Employees can use earned PST for an employee’s illness or injury, a family member’s illness or injury, and in other situations.
Carryover Limits: Employers must permit employees to carry unused accrued PST over to the next year (and employers can determine if a “year” is a calendar year or another twelve-month period). Carried over PST, however, does not increase the maximum usage caps for that year.
Example: Lisa has 10 hours of PST accrued but unused at the end of 2017. Lisa can carry over the 10 hours, but still can only use 40 hours (or 24 hours for smaller employers) of PST in 2018.
Here is the nitty gritty:
- Post a notice of employees’ PST rights on or before July 1, 2017;
- Include on pay statements, or an enclosed notice, the amount of the employee’s accrued PST, amount of PST used by the employee, and amount of pay the employee has received as earned PST. This administrative function will require coordination with your payroll staff to ensure compliance;
- An employer may request “reasonable documentation” that earned PST is used for a proper purpose only where employees seeks to use three or more consecutive work days of PST;
- Employers are not required to pay accrued but unused PST at employment termination; and
- If an employer rehires a separated employee within nine months, PST accrued previously must be reinstated.
4. New “Smart” Form I-9
Form I-9 is used to verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment. The seemingly innocuous Form I-9, however, comes with steep penalties for filling it out incorrectly (which frequently happens). The federal government just released its latest Form I-9 (which, frankly, is better than the previous version). The latest Form I-9 features drop down menus and prompts employees for more information depending on what is provided. Section 3 will now be on a separate page. Ideally, employers will provide access to a computer with a printer that allows employees to complete the form electronically then print for a signature.
You have until January 22, 2017 to begin using the new form.
