Error removes limits from Ind. project wage law

A mistake in a bill that legislators meant to loosen wage requirements on government construction projects in Indiana will put all such projects -- regardless of cost -- under the regulations.

Senate President Pro Tem David Long, R-Fort Wayne, said legislative leaders only recently found out about the mistake made by the Legislative Services Agency staff.

The error deletes the law's current threshold level of $150,000 from July 1 through the end of this year, The Journal Gazette of Fort Wayne reported. The new law raises the threshold to $250,000 starting Jan. 1, then increases it to $350,000 starting in 2013.

"There was a drafting error. It was not caught, and (the legislative agency) has apologized to us," Long said. "It should have been caught."

The bill approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature in April and signed into law by GOP Gov. Mitch Daniels made changes to Indiana's Common Construction Wage Act, which establishes labor rates in construction projects contracted by state and local governments.

Supporters argued it was aimed at increasing the number of Indiana contractors that would bid on government projects and lower the cost of those projects, but it was among the labor-related bills that House Democrats protested during their five-week legislative boycott.

House Minority Leader Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, said that workers on construction projects that aren't covered by the wage law already aren't paid enough.

"Maybe this will be a great test to show we can build and have economic development and you don't have to lower people's wages," Bauer said. "It's a six-month trial showing we can build while giving good living wages."

Legislators aren't scheduled back in regular session until January, and Long said the error wasn't worth the expense of calling them back before then.

Long said he believed state and local officials should follow the current law and the intent of the Legislature. He said he hoped union members don't "skewer" government units into paying higher wages on these smaller projects.

But Pete Rimsans, executive director of the union-affiliated Indiana State Building and Construction Trades Council, said "It's the law, and you can't just put your blinders on."

Rimsans did say he doesn't think many projects will be affected -- mainly just smaller maintenance work or emergency repairs.

Indiana labor laws regarding confidentiality – federal health ...

Indiana labor laws cover some situations in which it is essential for an employer or employee to maintain or promise confidentiality. If an employment relationship is based on a contract between an employer and an employee, the terms that outline business confidentiality in the contract will govern in the case of an employment dispute. Indiana labor laws uphold employer requirements for confidentiality provided they are reasonable.

Confidentiality of Employer Information

When an employer enters into a contract with an employee, the employer could include requirements for business confidentiality. Typically, the employer states that the employee should keep certain proprietary information, methods or data confidential even after the employment relationship ceases. These sorts of agreements are enforceable under Indiana labor laws. However, the state requires such covenants to be reasonable.

Confidentiality of Employee Information

Employers have access to certain employee information, such as medical records. Indiana law requires employers to store such records separately from an employee”s regular human-resource records. Management should keep confidential such records, including records relating to investigation of harassment complaints. Further, the business should only allow managers with a genuine business need to access such records.

Confidentiality Under HIPAA

Indiana employers are also subject to the confidentiality requirements of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This act limits the ability of insurers to use preexisting conditions as a reason to exclude employees from medical coverage for more than 12 months. HIPAA rules also impose requirements on employers and health insurers to keep confidential employee information generated under an health insurance plan. Employers should be careful in providing access to such records. This sort of information falls under the category of HIPAA “protected health information.

Labor laws for women in industry in Indiana, report of a survey by the Woman in Industry Service, United States Department of Labor ; as submitted to the governor of Indiana

Labor laws of Indiana

Monthly labor review

Indiana, a social and economic survey / by Frances Doan Streightoff and Frank Hatch Streightoff; with a chapter on charities and corrections by Cecil Clare North

Monthly review of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics