Seasonal Employees As Potential Liabilities

As the holiday season ramps up, employers should be aware of the potential liabilities that come with bringing in seasonal workers. Workers brought in for seasonal jobs pose as much of a legal risk as year-round employees with regard to discrimination, harassment, or other inappropriate conduct. Most seasonal jobs are still subject to overtime under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and state wage and hour laws, something important to keep in mind as hour and wage lawsuits are popular right now, especially ones claiming employees were pressured to work through lunch breaks or before or after their shifts without being paid for that time. Ensuring inexperienced and/or young workers understand company clock-in and overtime policies, and making the end date of seasonal employment clear can help prevent a litigious New Year.