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	Human resources expert Margaret Fiester talked to CUs Wednesday about EEOC, Labor Department rules affecting them.

Feb. 7, 2013 – Credit unions learned what they need to know as employers to avoid running afoul of federal wage-and-hour and harassment claims during NAFCU's webcast, "Top Credit Union HR Compliance Challenges," held Wednesday and led by Margaret Fiester.

Fiester, with the Society for Human Resources Management, provided overviews of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's 2013 enforcement plan and wage-and-hour enforcement activities of the Department of Labor. These two organizations enforce federal work force laws and have an impact on all businesses in the U.S., including credit unions.

Wednesday's program looked at credit unions' and their employees' responsibilities to prevent harassment in the workplace and the appropriate response to reports of harassment.

The program also addressed federal wage and hour laws. Feister said that from April 1, 2010, through March 31, 2011, plaintiffs filed 7,008 Fair Labor Standards Act cases in federal courts; the number of such claims are more than 3.5 times as many as were filed 10 years ago.

Fiester also noted that investigators in wage-and-hour cases are being instructed to seek civil penalties against firms, even if it's their first investigation.

Wednesday's webcast remains available on demand for one year.