Suspicious Account Activity Identified in the State’s Unemployment Insurance Claimant System

The Vermont Department of Labor has identified eight cases of fraudulent activity in the Unemployment Insurance Claimant Portal System. Based on their initial review, this activity appears to involve individual claimant accounts, in which personal information was used to gain unauthorized access to the Unemployment Insurance system. The state police are actively investigating this incident, […]

On the Wire | News & Analysis from the Web for the Week of April 8

U.S. Democrats seek up to $2 trillion to invest in aging infrastructure.  Reuters 4/11 “Democratic leaders in Congress said on Thursday they would seek President Donald Trump’s support in coming weeks for legislation to invest up to $2 trillion to rebuild U.S. infrastructure, including roads, bridges and schools. . . .” AI in Manufacturing: Nascent, […]

The Week Ahead in Committees | Week of April 15

The following are selected items on committee calendars for the coming week that might be of interest to members.  Schedules are subject to change.  If you would like more in­formation on any of these issues or others of interest to you, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@aivt.org.  You and also review full agendas […]

Federal Updates | Court Cases Impacting Manufacturers and Other Employers

The following updates are provided in cooperation with our national allies at NAM. NAM Calls on Court to Protect Spousal Work Permits.  The NAM, along with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Information Technology Industry Council, is calling on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to protect H-4 work permits for spouses […]

Proposal to Allow Attorney General to Investigate Employee Misclassification and Add Additional Penalties

S.108 would allow individuals to ask the Attorney General to investigate and impose penalties in cases of misclassification of employees as independent contractors with regard to worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance, wage and hour, minimum wage, and paid sick leave.  It is currently under review in the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee. There are a […]

Update and Action Alert | Mandatory Paid Family Leave and Minimum Wage

Both major labor bills this year, H.107, imposing mandatory paid family leave, and S.23, raising the minimum wage, have remain under committee consideration.  The Senate Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs Committee is reviewing H.107, while the House General, Housing, and Military Affairs Committee is reviewing S.23.  AIV continues to work with coalition partners in […]

Federal Updates | New Proposed Federal Labor Rules

The following updates are provided in cooperation with our national allies at NAM. Proposed Rule: Regular Rate Under the FLSA.  On March 29, DOL published a proposed rule on the regular rate under the Fair Labor Standards Act. This proposed rule would make clear what employers must include in the calculations of a nonexempt employee’s […]

On the Wire | News & Analysis from the Web for the Week of April 1

Caution ahead in petrochemicals.  Chemical & Engineering News 4/6 “The petrochemical industry is spooked.  Shale gas in the US and a long economic expansion brought a decade of unprecedented prosperity for the industry. But speakers at the World Petrochemical Conference, put on in San Antonio last month by the consulting group IHS Markit, warned of […]

The Week Ahead in Committees | Week of April 8

The following are selected items on committee calendars for the coming week that might be of interest to members.  Schedules are subject to change.  If you would like more in­formation on any of these issues or others of interest to you, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@aivt.org.  You and also review full agendas […]

UPDATED | Action Alert | Round Up of Key Chemical Bills

Four major bills addressing chemical regulatory issues of interest to Vermont manufacturers are currently or soon to be under review in House committees following action in the Senate.  Members are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with these bills and to contact us at info@aivt.org for more updates and information about options for engaging with legislators. […]