Washington D.C. Employment Law Update : Washington D.C. Employment Lawyer & Attorney : Littler Mendelson Law Firm : Virginia, Tyson's Corner

Today President Obama outlined his plan to promote the growth of small businesses as a way to stimulate the economy and reduce unemployment. During his State of the Union Address, Obama proposed using $30 billion repaid funds that financial institutions received through the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to increase the ability of small businesses to obtain loans. In addition, he called for tax incentives for businesses to invest in new plants and equipment, and the elimination of capital gains taxes on small business investment. 

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This morning, President Obama unveiled a $3.8 trillion budget for fiscal year 2011, (pdf) $14 billion of which is allocated to the Department of Labor (DOL). As expected, much of these funds are directed to the DOL’s labor and employment law enforcement efforts. According to a fact sheet, the budget provides $25 million and 100 additional enforcement personnel for the DOL, in conjunction with the Treasury Department, to identify and penalize employers who improperly classify employees as independent contractors. In addition, $1.7 billion – a $67 million increase – will be given to the DOL’s worker protection agencies for enforcement purposes, reflecting a shift in resources towards greater enforcement. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will be provided $573 million, an increase of $14 million, to be used, among other things, to hire or transfer an additional 60 enforcement members to its staff, and conduct 9 percent more inspections. An additional $7 million will be provided to the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) to hire more benefits advisors and research staff.

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Littler is happy to introduce Ilyse Schuman as the newest member of the Firm’s Government Affairs team. Schuman is a shareholder in Littler’s Washington, D.C. office, where she heads up the Firm’s newly-formed Government Affairs practice and serves as main contributor to this blog. A veteran congressional staffer and policy advisor, she brings a wealth of Capitol Hill knowledge and experience to her new roles. We look forward to her insights as the landscape in Washington, D.C. continues to evolve for employers.

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