Todays’ Key Takeaways: The Wage and Hour section of Labor Standards anticipates 20-25 inquiries against Alaska employers each week if Ballot Measure 1 passes. The state anticipates extensive audits of employer policies and accrual rates if Ballot Measure 1 passes. The state will seek resolution of complaints through civil court.
From the Fiscal Note Developed by the Alaska Department of Labor:
The initiative expands the purview of the Wage and Hour section in Labor Standards & Safety (LSS) to include:
- Enforcement and compliance for employer paid sick leave provisions and investigating retaliation complaints by employees for “right to avoid speech” violations.
- Investigations for paid sick leave requirements will be more complex than the standard wage claims Wage and Hour now investigates. These will require extensive audits of employers’ policies and accrual rates for all employees, as well as reasons for usage or denial for all employees.
- The “right to avoid speech” initiative will require Wage and Hour to investigate retaliation complains. Retaliation investigations will require the development of a distinctive investigative process to establish a causal relationship.
- Both the sick leave and “right to avoid speech” cases will not be settled through small claims court but will require Wage and Hour to seek resolution through civil court.
- Wage and Hour will need an additional Administrative Assistant 2 to handle an estimated additional 20-25 inquiries Wage and Hour anticipates it will be receiving each week regarding these issues