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Labor Department Providing Apprenticeship Investment Funds
The Department of Labor and Regulation (DLR) is providing $270,000 in investment funding to help businesses and organizations train new apprentices in Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAP) in South Dakota.
Businesses may be eligible to receive $500 for each new apprentice who is an existing employee and/or $1,000 for each new apprentice who is a new employee.
“South Dakota remains open for business, and this funding will help invest more into our current and future workforce,” said state Labor and Regulation Secretary Marcia Hultman. “New apprentices lead to a stable and predictable talent pipeline.”
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State Minimum Wage Increased January 2021
Reminder, the South Dakota's state minimum wage increased from $9.30/hour to $9.45/hour as of Jan. 1, 2021.
The minimum wage is annually adjusted by any increase in the cost of living, as measured by the Consumer Price Index published by the U.S. Department of Labor. This year’s increase was 1.3% and is rounded up to the nearest 5 cents.
The hourly minimum wage for tipped employees increased to $4.725/hour, half the minimum wage for non-tipped employees. Wages and tips combined must equal at least the minimum wage.
These increases apply to all South Dakota employers, with limited exceptions.
COVID-19's Impact on the Labor Market
The Pandemic Picture, a monthly feature by the Labor Market Information Center (LMIC), provides insights into COVID-19’s impact on South Dakota’s labor economy.
Analysis includes labor force, non-farm worker levels, and employment and establishment levels from January 2020 through the most current labor market data available.
Subscribe to the South Dakota e-Labor Bulletin to receive an email notice.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has published nationwide survey results on the business response to the pandemic. See South Dakota highlights or view the full BLS release.
Report Refusal of Work to Reemployment Assistance
Workers who have been placed on a temporary layoff related to COVID-19 but refuse to return to work when recalled by their employers will lose unemployment benefits, except for certain circumstances. View guidance.
Businesses should report employees who refuse to return to work without good reason or who quit their jobs to RAFraud@state.sd.us as soon as possible. Additionally, employers can report refusal of suitable work when an employment offer is turned down.
South Dakota law provides penalties to claimants and employees who commit fraud. The CARES Act and the Continued Assistance Act also specifically provide for serious consequences for fraudulent cases. Individuals are responsible for paying back benefits deemed as overpayments due to ineligibility.
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Employers' Roles in SD UpSkill
SD UpSkill, a partnership between the Board of Technical Education and the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, has provided opportunities to South Dakota residents who have been dislocated due to COVID-19 and are eligible for reemployment assistance.
UpSkill offers full tuition assistance for a variety of certificate programs offered by South Dakota’s four technical universities.
The business community is vital in the success of this program. DLR will be reaching out to community business leaders in the participants’ fields of study to provide mock interviews from industry professionals. Not only can participants practice interview skills in settings relevant to their chosen career paths, but employers can connect with potential future employees.
Visit www.sdupskill.com for more information about the credentials and contact information for the technical colleges.
If you have questions about the UpSkill program or want to see other ways businesses can partner with DLR job services offices, please contact upskill@state.sd.us.
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U.S. Department of Labor Issues Guidance on Electronic Posting of Labor Law Notices
As more employers choose remote work and virtual options due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. DOL has recently issued a Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) to provide guidance regarding the posting of required notices electronically (for example by email or posted to websites).
In most cases, these electronic notices supplement but do not replace the statutory and regulatory requirements employers post as a hard-copy notice. Whether notices are provided electronically or in hard-copy format, it is an employer’s obligation to provide the required notices to all affected individuals.
View the bulletin.
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QUICK LINKS
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South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation
Employer Connection E-Newsletter
You have received this email because you have an account with the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation or have subscribed to the DLR Employer Newsletter ListServ
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