Employment

Resources to help employers maintain a safe, efficient workplace. Stay up to date on the rules and regulations for employment in Maine today.

Click here for the Chamber’s list of area businesses that are currently hiring.

HELPFUL LINKS

CAREER CENTER – DEPT of LABOR

www.mainecareercenter.gov (General CareerCenter services for employers and jobseekers)

LABOR LAWS

https://www.maine.gov/labor/labor_laws/index.html (Labor laws and advice, required workplace posters, etc.)

HEALTH & SAFETY

https://www.safetyworksmaine.gov/ (Workplace health & safety information from the State of Maine, including training classes and free workplace inspections)

ECONOMIC DATA

https://www.maine.gov/labor/cwri/ (Data, facts & figures, and other economic and labor market information from Maine Dept. of Labor)

ON-SITE SAFETY AND HEALTH CONSULTATION – MAINE DEPT. OF LABOR

A safety and health audit by an experienced occupational safety and health professional can help you identify hazards and reduce or eliminate the risk of injuries and illnesses. At your request, and at no cost to you, a SafetyWorks! consultant can visit your workplace and help you make it safer and healthier for workers. SafetyWorks! is not OSHA and cannot issue fines or citations.

A SafetyWorks! professional can come to your workplace and help you:

• Recognize safety hazards
• Sample for air and noise exposures
• Reduce or eliminate hazards
• Develop or improve a safety program
• Comply with OSHA regulations
• Identify training needs

To request a confidential on-site consultation, call SafetyWorks! Customer Service toll-free at 1-877-SAFE-345 (1-877-723-3345).

MAINE TOURISM ASSOCIATION TO BEGIN OPERATING A STAFFING SERVICE

The Maine Tourism Association (MTA) will soon begin operating a staffing service for its members to address the workforce shortage in the tourism industry. The staffing service will find employees in other states, provide background checks on the employees, and arrange for their transportation to Maine and the member business. MTA will also offer the option of basic hospitality skills training for a few days prior to the employee arriving at the business.

The staffing service will operate as a pilot project through 2019, offering its services to a small number of MTA members, and will be expanded to all members in future years. For more information, visit www.mainetourism.com.

MARIJUANA AND THE WORKPLACE

Resources for employers to help develop, adapt and document your policies on marijuana and your workforce. Use is growing, especially among medical users. How can you assure safety and productivity while not eliminating a segment of employable candidates for your jobs? See the various attachments for downloading.

Marijuana Workplace Education Initiative

Workplace Fact Sheet

Marijuana use in the Workplace

MINIMUM WAGE POSTER

Here is a copy of the new Minimum Wage poster which describes the wage law that goes into effect Jan.1, 2020.

Poster: Minimum Wage 2020.

This poster must be posted where your employees can easily see it, and is one of many legally required Labor Law posters. Please note that all necessary posters are available at no cost, and you never need to pay for them. It is OK to print off black & white copies, too.

To locate all legally required Maine Labor Law posters, go to this location: https://www.maine.gov/labor/labor_laws/index.html and click on the link under the heading Wage & Hour, that says Maine Labor Posters.

FMI, contact David Grima, Employment and Training Specialist at Maine Department of Labor – David.M.Grima@Maine.gov

MINIMUM WAGE SCHEDULE 2020

Maine’s minimum wage is increasing, effective January 1, 2020. Maine statute regarding salary workers is based on the state minimum wage, and therefore will also see an increase.

• 2020 State Minimum Wage: $12.00
• 2020 Minimum Direct Service Wage: $6.00
• 2020 Maximum Tip Credit: $6.00
• 2020 Minimum Weekly Salary for Exempt Employees: $692.31

Minimum Wage FAQ

Labor Laws FAQ

MINORS IN NON-AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT

Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards has revised Chapter 11 of Rules Governing the Rules Governing Hazardous Occupations for Minors under the Age of Eighteen in Non-Agricultural Employment.

The state has adopted the following changes, that went into effect August 19, 2018:

• Driving restrictions to allow 17 years of age to drive for work under specific circumstances and conditions.
• Minors that are at least 16 years of age will no longer be prohibited from working alone in a cash-based business, and will be allowed to perform soldering and welding duties in accordance with federal standards.
• Expanded cooking occupations for minors that are between 14 and 15 years of age to include venues allowed by federal standards.
• A new restriction is being added in accordance with 26 MRS §772 (2) which prohibits all minors under the age of 18 from working in any occupation in a registered marijuana dispensary, any establishment that cultivates, produces, or sells marijuana or products that contain marijuana, and any recreational marijuana social clubs.

View the adopted changes to the rules at: https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/12/chaps12.htm

MONITOR OUTSOURCED PAYROLL TAX DEPOSITS

Many small business employers hire third-party payroll service providers to perform their payroll processing functions and tax-related duties, including making employment tax deposits through the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS). It is important small businesses monitor their tax deposits as they, generally, remain liable for any unpaid employment taxes.  Employers can visit Outsourcing payroll and third-party payers on IRS.gov, the EFTPS.gov website, and watch the video Monitoring your outsourced payroll duties on EFTPS for more information.

TRAINING – MAINE DEPT. OF LABOR

SafetyWorks! professionals can train you and your employees on a wide range of safety and health topics — at no cost to you.

The program offers a range of training options.

• Training at your workplace.
• Scheduled course at a location near you or in our hands-on training facility in Augusta.
• Online courses.
• No-cost video lending library and training resources available.

To request a confidential on-site consultation, call SafetyWorks! Customer Service toll-free at 1-877-SAFE-345 (1-877-723-3345).

YOUTH EMPLOYMENT

The Maine Tourism Association (MTA) has let us know that the “Youth Employment and the Steps to Success” initiative (YES) has been created by the Maine Departments of Labor and Education in an effort to increase youth employment in Maine. MTA supports this program which can help address the state’s workforce needs, as well provide benefits by getting teens into the workforce to build their self-confidence and understanding the value of earning their own money, and developing the soft skills required by employers.  For more information about the YES initiative, go to www.mainecareercenter.gov/yes.