News & Insights

As school bus operators prepare to review their employee handbooks and policies over the summer months, special attention should be paid to any language in the handbook or separate policy regarding employee benefits and leave. School bus operators often employ both full-time and part-time staff, and like most employers, typically provide benefits to full-time employees that part-time employees do not receive. Additionally, it is not uncommon for employers to have benefits policies that do not ac...

As most school bus operators know, when it comes to human resources, compliance is often the primary focus. However, there are other elements of effective human resources management that extend beyond compliance, such as communication and compassion. School bus operators, like most employers, are frequently faced with workplace issues where clear communication and compassion can make a difference.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) establishes the minimum wage, currently $7.25 per hour, and overtime requirements for employees working over forty (40) hours per week, at a rate of one and one half times the employee’s regular rate of pay. 29 U.S.C. §206, 207. But, employees employed in a bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity are exempt from these minimum wage and overtime requirements. 29 U.S.C. §213(a). The United States Department of Labor (“USDOL”) regulati...

As we head into spring, many transportation contractors are working on final details of contract renewals with their school districts. When reviewing terms of a contract, it is easy to glance over the terms that look boilerplate, but can actually have significant ramifications for your operation. One consequential term often found in transportation contracts, as well as many other types of contracts, is indemnity. Although it may seem routine, contractors should understand what indemnity provisi...

In school bus operations, most employees are part-time drivers that do not exceed 40 hours of work in a workweek; however, nearly all contractors have some full-time staff that work 40 hours per week. Occasionally, an employee may be assigned to two jobs with different rates of pay, such as a bus driver and office administrator. Accordingly, contractors may decide to pay these employees two different rates of pay, depending on the job being performed. In such cases, there are special considerati...

Polaris Industries will pay $55,000 after penalizing a pregnant employee for medically necessary absences and refusing accommodations—a violation of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

2024 brought many significant changes and events that affect the school bus industry. From the extension of the Under the Hood Exemption, to changes and challenges in new laws affecting employers, there was no shortage of news in the past year. Continuing reading for a recap of the year’s most significant events that may have an impact on you and your business.