legaltune

[legaltune]

At 12pm there are 81 fires burning across NSW with 43 uncontained. In yesterday’s extremely dangerous fire activity, at least 100 homes were lost. This number is expected to increase. There have also been 2 people confirmed dead and 7 still unaccounted for. #nswrfs #nswfirespic.twitter.com/j054qngH3H

At 12pm there are 81 fires burning across NSW with 43 uncontained. In yesterday’s extremely dangerous fire activity, at least 100 homes were lost. This number is expected to increase. There have also been 2 people confirmed dead and 7 still unaccounted for. #nswrfs #nswfires pic.twitter.com/j054qngH3H

At 12pm there are 81 fires burning across NSW with 43 uncontained. In yesterday’s extremely dangerous fire activity, at least 100 homes were lost. This number is expected to increase. There have also been 2 people confirmed dead and 7 still unaccounted for. #nswrfs #nswfirespic.twitter.com/j054qngH3H syndicated from https://legaltune.wordpress.com/

[legaltune]

For those affected by the fires in northern NSW, here is some important information regarding evacuation centres that are open today: https://www.facebook.com/nswrfs/posts/10157407382755552 … #nswrfs #nswfires

For those affected by the fires in northern NSW, here is some important information regarding evacuation centres that are open today: https://www.facebook.com/nswrfs/posts/10157407382755552 … #nswrfs #nswfires

For those affected by the fires in northern NSW, here is some important information regarding evacuation centres that are open today: https://www.facebook.com/nswrfs/posts/10157407382755552 … #nswrfs #nswfires syndicated from https://legaltune.wordpress.com/

[legaltune]

Corrective Services staff evacuated 164 minimum-security inmates from Glen Innes prison to Grafton prison this morning due to bushfire risk. All evacuees are safe. Visits to Grafton and Glen Innes correctional centres have been cancelled until further notice. #NSWfires

Corrective Services staff evacuated 164 minimum-security inmates from Glen Innes prison to Grafton prison this morning due to bushfire risk.

All evacuees are safe.

Visits to Grafton and Glen Innes correctional centres have been cancelled until further notice. #NSWfires

Corrective Services staff evacuated 164 minimum-security inmates from Glen Innes prison to Grafton prison this morning due to bushfire risk.

All evacuees are safe.

Visits to Grafton and Glen Innes correctional centres have been cancelled until further notice. #NSWfires syndicated from https://legaltune.wordpress.com/

[legaltune]

Corrective Services staff evacuated 164 minimum-security inmates from Glen Innes prison to Grafton prison this morning due to bushfire risk. All evacuees are safe. Visits to Grafton and Glen Innes correctional centres have been cancelled until further notice. #NSWfires

Corrective Services staff evacuated 164 minimum-security inmates from Glen Innes prison to Grafton prison this morning due to bushfire risk.

All evacuees are safe.

Visits to Grafton and Glen Innes correctional centres have been cancelled until further notice. #NSWfires

Corrective Services staff evacuated 164 minimum-security inmates from Glen Innes prison to Grafton prison this morning due to bushfire risk.

All evacuees are safe.

Visits to Grafton and Glen Innes correctional centres have been cancelled until further notice. #NSWfires syndicated from https://legaltune.wordpress.com/

[legaltune]

Firefighters have located the remains of a person in a vehicle at the Kangawalla fire, near Glen Innes. Two people remain unaccounted for after yesterday’s bush fires. NSW RFS is working with @nswpolice. #nswrfs #nswfires

Firefighters have located the remains of a person in a vehicle at the Kangawalla fire, near Glen Innes. Two people remain unaccounted for after yesterday’s bush fires. NSW RFS is working with @nswpolice. #nswrfs #nswfires

Firefighters have located the remains of a person in a vehicle at the Kangawalla fire, near Glen Innes. Two people remain unaccounted for after yesterday’s bush fires. NSW RFS is working with @nswpolice. #nswrfs #nswfires syndicated from https://legaltune.wordpress.com/

[legaltune]

Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame has delivered her findings & recommendations following an inquest into the deaths of six patrons of NSW music festivals: http://www.coroners.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/Redacted%20findings%20in%20the%20joint%20inquest%20into%20deaths%20arising%20at%20music%20festivals%20including%20annexures%20-%208%20November%202019.pdf …

Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame has delivered her findings & recommendations following an inquest into the deaths of six patrons of NSW music festivals: http://www.coroners.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/Redacted%20findings%20in%20the%20joint%20inquest%20into%20deaths%20arising%20at%20music%20festivals%20including%20annexures%20-%208%20November%202019.pdf …

Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame has delivered her findings & recommendations following an inquest into the deaths of six patrons of NSW music festivals: http://www.coroners.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/Redacted%20findings%20in%20the%20joint%20inquest%20into%20deaths%20arising%20at%20music%20festivals%20including%20annexures%20-%208%20November%202019.pdf … syndicated from https://legaltune.wordpress.com/

[legaltune]

Today has been a difficult and dangerous day. Unfortunately, many people have called for help but due to the size and speed of the fires we couldn’t get to everyone, even by road or helicopter. If you’ve been affected or know someone who has, use https://register.redcross.org.au  #nswrfs

Today has been a difficult and dangerous day. Unfortunately, many people have called for help but due to the size and speed of the fires we couldn’t get to everyone, even by road or helicopter. If you’ve been affected or know someone who has, use https://register.redcross.org.au  #nswrfs

Today has been a difficult and dangerous day. Unfortunately, many people have called for help but due to the size and speed of the fires we couldn’t get to everyone, even by road or helicopter. If you’ve been affected or know someone who has, use https://register.redcross.org.au  #nswrfs syndicated from https://legaltune.wordpress.com/

[legaltune]

The ground-breaking ReINVEST clinical trial has expanded to the Hunter region. It’s testing whether treatment with a common #antidepressant reduces #violent behaviour in highly impulsive men with a history of offending, including #domesticviolence. https://www.dcj.nsw.gov.au/news-and-media/media-releases/world-first-clinical-trial-to-reduce-violence-expands-to-the-hunter …pic.twitter.com/RWS2fsYeay

The ground-breaking ReINVEST clinical trial has expanded to the Hunter region.

It’s testing whether treatment with a common #antidepressant reduces #violent behaviour in highly impulsive men with a history of offending, including #domesticviolence. https://www.dcj.nsw.gov.au/news-and-media/media-releases/world-first-clinical-trial-to-reduce-violence-expands-to-the-hunter … pic.twitter.com/RWS2fsYeay

The ground-breaking ReINVEST clinical trial has expanded to the Hunter region. It’s testing whether treatment with a common #antidepressant reduces #violent behaviour in highly impulsive men with a history of offending, including #domesticviolence. https://www.dcj.nsw.gov.au/news-and-media/media-releases/world-first-clinical-trial-to-reduce-violence-expands-to-the-hunter …pic.twitter.com/RWS2fsYeay syndicated from https://legaltune.wordpress.com/

[legaltune]

A number of fires in the north coast and northern NSW areas are becoming more intense – and more dangerous. Some are creating their own weather conditions and pyrocumulous clouds are developing. These are extremely dangerous. Do not be caught in the open. #nswrfs #nswfirepic.twitter.com/a6O67wUqhv

A number of fires in the north coast and northern NSW areas are becoming more intense – and more dangerous. Some are creating their own weather conditions and pyrocumulous clouds are developing. These are extremely dangerous. Do not be caught in the open. #nswrfs #nswfire pic.twitter.com/a6O67wUqhv

A number of fires in the north coast and northern NSW areas are becoming more intense – and more dangerous. Some are creating their own weather conditions and pyrocumulous clouds are developing. These are extremely dangerous. Do not be caught in the open. #nswrfs #nswfirepic.twitter.com/a6O67wUqhv syndicated from https://legaltune.wordpress.com/

[legaltune]

At 4pm, there are 99 fires burning across NSW, with 55 uncontained. 14 very dangerous fires remain at Emergency Warning. If you are near these fires, your life is at risk and you need to take action to protect your life. More info here: http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/mfu  #nswrfs #nswfirespic.twitter.com/WUIJ3mRATv

At 4pm, there are 99 fires burning across NSW, with 55 uncontained. 14 very dangerous fires remain at Emergency Warning. If you are near these fires, your life is at risk and you need to take action to protect your life. More info here: http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/mfu  #nswrfs #nswfires pic.twitter.com/WUIJ3mRATv

At 4pm, there are 99 fires burning across NSW, with 55 uncontained. 14 very dangerous fires remain at Emergency Warning. If you are near these fires, your life is at risk and you need to take action to protect your life. More info here: http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/mfu  #nswrfs #nswfirespic.twitter.com/WUIJ3mRATv syndicated from https://legaltune.wordpress.com/

[legaltune]

DHS Extends Temporary Protected Status and Work Authorization

As a result of court orders prohibiting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from terminating Temporary Protected Status, DHS is again extending the program for certain countries.

TPS Country Current Expiration Date New Expiration Date El Salvador 01/02/2020 01/04/2021 Haiti 01/02/2020 01/04/2021 Nicaragua 01/02/2020 01/04/2021 Sudan 01/02/2020 01/04/2021 Honduras 01/05/2020 01/04/2021 Nepal 03/24/2020 01/04/2021

In addition, DHS has automatically extended the employment authorization documents (EAD) of TPS beneficiaries from these countries to January 4, 2021.  The automatic extension through January 4, 2021 applies to nationals of these countries provided:

Their EAD has the Category Code A-12 or C-19 and

Their EAD has an expiration date of: 07/22/2017; 11/02/2017; 01/05/2018; 01/22/2018; 03/09/2018; 06/24/2018; 07/05/2018; 11/02/2018; 01/05/2019; 04/02/2019; 06/24/2019; 07/22/2019; 09/09/2019; 01/02/2020; 01/05/2020; OR 03/24/2020.

When using an automatically extended EAD to complete Form I-9 for a new hire before January 4, 2021, the employer should do the following:

Determine if the EAD is auto-extended by ensuring it is in category A-12 or C-19 and has one of the expiration dates listed above.

Write January 4, 2021, as the expiration date.

In the case of a current employee taking advantage of the automatic extension of his or her EAD, the employee and employer should do the following:

Employee – draw a line through the expiration date in Section 1; write January 4, 2021, above the previous date; and initial and date the correction in the margin of Section 1.

Employer

Determine if the EAD is auto-extended by ensuring it is in category A-12 or C-19 and has one of the expiration dates listed above.

Draw a line through the expiration date written in Section 2;

Write “EAD EXT” and January 4, 2021, above the previous date; and

Initial and date the correction in the Additional Information field in Section 2.

The employer must re-verify the employee’s Form I-9 on or before January 5, 2021.

DHS Extends Temporary Protected Status and Work Authorization syndicated from https://legaltune.wordpress.com/

[legaltune]

Some Tips on Tips

On October 25, Elitsa posted on the increase in Florida’s minimum wage to $8.56 an hour, effective January 1.  Because of that increase, Florida employers who take a tip credit must pay tipped employees a direct wage of at least $5.54 per hour.  The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed a new rule regulating tipped employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act.  Here are some highlights of the current requirements and what the proposed rule requires.

The FLSA allows employers that take a tip credit to “tip pool,” i.e., sharing collected tips among multiple workers.  However, employers may only include employees who customarily and regularly receive tips, such as servers, bartenders, and bussers, in the tip pool.  The DOJ’s existing regulations apply these restrictions on mandatory tip pools to all employers, whether or not the employer takes a tip credit under the FLSA. This means cooks and dishwashers may not be part of mandatory tip pools.  The proposed rule on tips will eliminate this restriction for employers that do not take the tip credit and will implement guidance on when an employer can apply the tip credit to “non-serving” work tasks.

The proposed rule will do the following:

Implement a 2018 change in the FLSA that prohibits employers, managers, or supervisors from keeping employees’ tips, including from a tip pool, regardless of whether the employer takes a tip credit under the FLSA.

Remove the regulatory language that imposes restrictions on an employer’s use of employees’ tips when the employer does not take a tip credit. This would allow employers that do not take an FLSA tip credit to include a broader group of workers, such as cooks or dishwashers, in a mandatory tip pool.

Amend the regulations to reflect recent guidance explaining that an employer may take a tip credit for any amount of time that an employee in a tipped occupation performs related non-tipped duties contemporaneously with his or her tipped duties, or for a reasonable time immediately before or after performing the tipped duties. “Related non-tipped duties” include, for example, time a server spends cleaning or setting up the tables he or she serves, making coffee, and toasting bread.  In addition, the proposed rule expands the definition of related non-tipped duties to include tasks listed in the applicable job description of the O*NET.

Require employers that collect cash tips to facilitate a mandatory tip pool to redistribute the tips no less often than when it pays wages, to align the policy for cash tips with the current policy for tips paid via credit card. Employers would not have to distribute cash tips daily.

Require employers that do not take a tip credit to keep records of those employees who receive tips and the tip amounts they receive.

For employers who take a tip credit, the proposed regulations do not change much, other than defining in a more formal manner the “related non-tipped duties” to which they can apply the tip credit.  For those employers that pay a direct wage of at least the minimum wage and do not use the tip credit, the proposed rule provides greater flexibility in who can share in tips.  The proposed rule should also provide these employers relief from minimum wage litigation challenging how they handle their tip pools.

Some Tips on Tips syndicated from https://legaltune.wordpress.com/

[legaltune]

EMERGENCY WARNING: LIndfield PArk Rd, Port Macquarie The fire has breached containment lines and crossed the Pacific Hwy at Thrumster. If you are in the area of Thrumster and Sovereign Hills, seek shelter as the fire impacts. The Pacific Hwy is closed. #nswrfs #nswfires #alertpic.twitter.com/uhBMpC0c0R

EMERGENCY WARNING: LIndfield PArk Rd, Port Macquarie The fire has breached containment lines and crossed the Pacific Hwy at Thrumster. If you are in the area of Thrumster and Sovereign Hills, seek shelter as the fire impacts. The Pacific Hwy is closed. #nswrfs #nswfires #alert pic.twitter.com/uhBMpC0c0R

EMERGENCY WARNING: LIndfield PArk Rd, Port Macquarie The fire has breached containment lines and crossed the Pacific Hwy at Thrumster. If you are in the area of Thrumster and Sovereign Hills, seek shelter as the fire impacts. The Pacific Hwy is closed. #nswrfs #nswfires #alertpic.twitter.com/uhBMpC0c0R syndicated from https://legaltune.wordpress.com/

[legaltune]

#BREAKING: The EMERGENCY level bushfire at Hillville has CROSSED the Pacific Hwy and is heading towards Rainbow Flat, Diamond Beach, Possum Brush, Tallwoods Village & Hallidays Pt. If you are in these areas, you need to seek shelter as it approaches.#9News https://www.9news.com.au/national/bushfire-alerts-firefighters-in-nsw-queensland-and-wa-expect-extreme-conditions/767c41fe-7105-48f1-a1a1-be79babea9b9?ocid=Social-9NewsS …

#BREAKING: The EMERGENCY level bushfire at Hillville has CROSSED the Pacific Hwy and is heading towards Rainbow Flat, Diamond Beach, Possum Brush, Tallwoods Village & Hallidays Pt. If you are in these areas, you need to seek shelter as it approaches. #9News https://www.9news.com.au/national/bushfire-alerts-firefighters-in-nsw-queensland-and-wa-expect-extreme-conditions/767c41fe-7105-48f1-a1a1-be79babea9b9?ocid=Social-9NewsS …

#BREAKING: The EMERGENCY level bushfire at Hillville has CROSSED the Pacific Hwy and is heading towards Rainbow Flat, Diamond Beach, Possum Brush, Tallwoods Village & Hallidays Pt. If you are in these areas, you need to seek shelter as it approaches.#9News https://www.9news.com.au/national/bushfire-alerts-firefighters-in-nsw-queensland-and-wa-expect-extreme-conditions/767c41fe-7105-48f1-a1a1-be79babea9b9?ocid=Social-9NewsS … syndicated from https://legaltune.wordpress.com/

[legaltune]

EMERGENCY WARNING: Bills Crossing Crowdy (Mid-Coast LGA) The fire is spreading to the Harrington area, as firefighters and aircraft work to protect homes. If you are in Crowdy Head or Harrington, monitor conditions and seek shelter if the fire impacts. #nswrfs #nswfires #alertpic.twitter.com/fn1KwIWXVK

EMERGENCY WARNING: Bills Crossing Crowdy (Mid-Coast LGA) The fire is spreading to the Harrington area, as firefighters and aircraft work to protect homes. If you are in Crowdy Head or Harrington, monitor conditions and seek shelter if the fire impacts. #nswrfs #nswfires #alert pic.twitter.com/fn1KwIWXVK

EMERGENCY WARNING: Bills Crossing Crowdy (Mid-Coast LGA) The fire is spreading to the Harrington area, as firefighters and aircraft work to protect homes. If you are in Crowdy Head or Harrington, monitor conditions and seek shelter if the fire impacts. #nswrfs #nswfires #alertpic.twitter.com/fn1KwIWXVK syndicated from https://legaltune.wordpress.com/

[legaltune]

Forster Courthouse has closed for the day due to the Hillville fire. Fresh custody matters will be heard if necessary at Port Macquarie via Audio-Visual Link. If you have any urgent enquiries please contact the NSW Court Services Centre on 1300679272pic.twitter.com/WEzK0zOMho

Forster Courthouse has closed for the day due to the Hillville fire. Fresh custody matters will be heard if necessary at Port Macquarie via Audio-Visual Link. If you have any urgent enquiries please contact the NSW Court Services Centre on 1300679272 pic.twitter.com/WEzK0zOMho

Forster Courthouse has closed for the day due to the Hillville fire. Fresh custody matters will be heard if necessary at Port Macquarie via Audio-Visual Link. If you have any urgent enquiries please contact the NSW Court Services Centre on 1300679272pic.twitter.com/WEzK0zOMho syndicated from https://legaltune.wordpress.com/

[legaltune]

The NSW govt will invest an extra $88m over 4.5 years to help @LegalAidNSW raise #LegalAid private practitioner rates. We’re already providing $224m pa to @LegalAidNSW, over double the 2010-11 figure under the previous govt. https://www.dcj.nsw.gov.au/news-and-media/media-releases/$88-million-boost-for-access-to-justice … https://www.dcj.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/726473/$88-million-boost-for-access-to-justice.pdf …pic.twitter.com/xfJr2lvH5U

The NSW govt will invest an extra $88m over 4.5 years to help @LegalAidNSW raise #LegalAid private practitioner rates.

We’re already providing $224m pa to @LegalAidNSW, over double the 2010-11 figure under the previous govt.

https://www.dcj.nsw.gov.au/news-and-media/media-releases/$88-million-boost-for-access-to-justice … https://www.dcj.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/726473/$88-million-boost-for-access-to-justice.pdf … pic.twitter.com/xfJr2lvH5U

The NSW govt will invest an extra $88m over 4.5 years to help @LegalAidNSW raise #LegalAid private practitioner rates. We’re already providing $224m pa to @LegalAidNSW, over double the 2010-11 figure under the previous govt. https://www.dcj.nsw.gov.au/news-and-media/media-releases/$88-million-boost-for-access-to-justice … https://www.dcj.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/726473/$88-million-boost-for-access-to-justice.pdf …pic.twitter.com/xfJr2lvH5U syndicated from https://legaltune.wordpress.com/