Page 32 - Layout 1
P. 32
BUSINESS
Run a Compliant Medical Practice:
3 Key Employment Laws That You Need to Know
By Norman Paul, Jr., J.D., CEO of SWBC PEO Services
Operating a medical practice comes with great responsibility to each week. It is important to know your state’s current mini-
not only your patients but also to your employees. It is important mum wage since it varies from state-to-state.
to understand key employment laws to make sure you stay in com-
pliance with the law and don’t jeopardize your practice or the safety Having a thorough understanding of the FLSA will help you
of your employees. define which employees are considered exempt and non-exempt,
pay them properly, and address what, if any, work time needs
Here are three key employment laws to keep in to be paid, including on-call, training, meetings, and travel time.
mind that will help manage your employees. Staying on top of FLSA rules can help prevent unnecessary pay
discrepancies, saving you time and money when processing pay-
1. Understanding the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) roll. In 2016, The United States Department of Labor
The purpose of the FLSA is to establish a minimum and over- (USDOL) substantially increased the civil money penalties it
time wage for your non-exempt employees and recordkeeping. can impose for certain violations of the FLSA. Effective Aug. 1,
Employees who fall within this category must be paid at least 2016, the USDOL can now impose a monetary policy of up to
the federal minimum wage for each hour worked, and one-and- $1,894 for each repeated or willful violation of minimum wage
a-half times their hourly rate for any hours worked beyond 40 or overtime requirements. This may also help you avoid lawsuits
32 San Antonio Medicine • May 2017
