No-Cost Courses on Employment Law for Employers Offered This Fall

August 13, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 13, 2015
Class Registration: (207) 623-7900
Media Contact: Julie Rabinowitz, 207-621-5009

Sessions in Springvale, Ellsworth, Presque Isle, Brunswick, Wilton, South Paris, Lincoln, Portland and Rockland

AUGUSTA?The Maine Department of Labor will offer sessions of its free course that educates employers and the public about regulations governing the workplace. The Laws Governing Workplace Rights classes are taught by staff of the Wage and Hour Division of the Bureau of Labor Standards.

?We have had strong business interest in these no-cost classes,? said Governor Paul R. LePage. ?Understanding the law prevents businesses from making costly mistakes while benefitting workers. The class helps Maine?s employers save time, money and aggravation when complying with state regulations.?

The course will be held on the following dates at the locations listed below. Although the courses are free, registration is required because seating is limited.

• York County CareerCenter, 9 Bodwell Court, Springvale: September 22 and November 5, 9 a.m. to noon
• Ellsworth Town Hall, 1 City Hall Avenue, Ellsworth: September 22, 9 a.m. to noon
• Southern Midcoast CareerCenter 275 Bath Road, Brunswick: September 23, 9 a.m. to noon
• Presque Isle CareerCenter, 66 Spruce Street, Suite 1, Presque Isle: September 23, 9 a.m. to noon
• Wilton CareerCenter, 865 US Route 2E, Wilton: September 30, 9 a.m. to noon
• Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce, 4 Western Avenue, South Paris: November 3, 9 a.m. to noon
• Lincoln Town Office, 63 Main Street, Lincoln: November 5, 9 a.m. to noon
• Greater Portland CareerCenter, 151 Jetport Boulevard, Portland: November 12, 9 a.m. to noon
• Rockland CareerCenter, 91 Camden Street, Rockland: November 17, 9 a.m. to noon

This course covers 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 addresses commonly asked employment-related questions, covers the Americans with Disabilities Act and offers participants an opportunity to ask questions. The course also includes a discussion of employer services offered by the CareerCenters.

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 designed for small business owners or staff members who handle human resources and payroll functions. This is about education, not investigation.?

To register, call the Maine Department of Labor at (207) 623-7900 or visit http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=Safetyworks_Classes&v=ListAll . Space is limited so reservations are required.

The Wage and Hour Division is Maine?s regulatory agency overseeing labor and employment law; it provides both consultation and enforcement services. The division promotes and achieves compliance with labor standards to protect and enhance the welfare of Maine?s workforce.

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