Free Course on Labor Laws Related to Agricultural Workplaces Bookmark and Share

July 15, 2013

August course will be held at the Presque Isle CareerCenter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 15, 2013
Contact: Julie Rabinowitz, 207-621-5009

AUGUSTA?The Maine Department of Labor is offering a free course that focuses on state unemployment law and federal wage and hour laws that regulate agricultural operations. The Labor Laws Related to Agricultural Workplaces class is taught by staff of the Bureau of Unemployment Compensation and includes Wage and Hour staff of the U.S. Department of Labor.

The course will be held on Tuesday, August 20, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Presque Isle Career Center. Although the course is free, registration is required because seating is limited.

?Modern agriculture is a complex and challenging business,? said Governor Paul R. LePage. ?This free course can remove some of that complexity and will give farmers and managers an opportunity to get answers to their employment questions.?

This seminar covers agricultural applications of wage and hour laws, including minimum wage, overtime, youth employment, severance pay, equal pay, leave requirements (family medical leave, family sick leave, and domestic violence) and break requirements. It also addresses commonly asked labor-related questions.

Commissioner of Labor Jeanne Paquette said, ?The department wants to help Maine employers by giving them the answers before we give them the test. This course is specially designed for farmers and agricultural businesses and their human resource or benefits professionals, accountants, owners, managers or payroll supervisors.?

To register for this class, call the Department of Labor?s Customer Service Unit at 207-623-7900 or sign up online at http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=Safetyworks_Classes&v=ListAll .

The Department of Labor is Maine?s regulatory agency overseeing employment law; it provides both consultation and enforcement services. It promotes and achieves compliance with labor standards and unemployment law to protect and enhance the welfare of Maine?s businesses and workforce.

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