The FLSA protects minors in 17 non-agricultural occupations that the Labor Department has declared hazardous including operating power-driven paper products machines.

Wage and hour laws are confusing for both employers and employees. Martin Segal, of the Miami Herald, wrote an article about the Florida minimum wage and tips.

The federal minimum wage in Florida increased to $7.21 effective January 1, 2009. Tipped employees get a direct wage of $4.19 which is the Florida state minimum wage.

Wal-Mart, who has been sued more than 70 times, for making their employees miss required breaks or work off the clock has settled a Minnesota case for $54.25 million dollars.

A December 2, 2008 New Times article discusses the current debate among cardiologists about whether CT angiography is as effective as conventional angiograms. These studies are used to determine if Florida First Responders with blocked arteries need angioplasty or bypass heart surgery.

Burger King is telling suppliers it may stop buying tomatoes from southwestern Florida, where farm-workers have fought to get the hamburger chain to pay more for its produce, according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press.

Six Florida Contractors Cited In Surprise Sweep

The Florida Supreme Court stuck down a 2003 Florida workers’ compensation law that capped workers’ compensation lawyer fees which had made it very hard to find a workers’ compensation lawyer who could afford to help an injured employee who needed workers’ compensation benefits. The Florida legislature passed a law in the 2009 Session once again limiting workers’ compensation attorney fees and Governor Crist has signed it into law.

On New Year’s Eve, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation released its annual report on the state of the market for workers’ compensation insurance to the Florida Legislature.