Information contained in this publication is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or opinion, nor is it a substitute for the professional judgment of an attorney.
As we have previously discussed, the Puerto Rico Department of Labor (PR DOL) has recently published the first edition of its Guidelines on the Interpretation of Puerto Rico’s Employment Legislation (Guidelines), which includes the PR DOL’s official statutory interpretation of nearly all of Puerto Rico’s employment laws. The over 200-page Guidelines are divided into 15 chapters and cover a wide range of statutes. This Insight is the first in a series that will provide a chapter-by-chapter analysis of the most important topics addressed in the Guidelines, including an interpretation of key provisions of the Puerto Rico Labor Transformation and Flexibility Act, Act No. 4 of January 26, 2017 (“Act 4-2017” or “LTFA”), which made substantial changes to virtually all existing employment laws in Puerto Rico, including those governing unjustified dismissal, wage-and-hour, vacation and sick leave, unemployment, lactation leave, employment discrimination and some employee benefits.
Chapter 1 – Principles of Interpretation of Labor Legislation
The PR DOL recognizes in this chapter the LTFA’s intention to overturn the PR Supreme Court’s long-standing position that any questions regarding an employment statute’s interpretation should be resolved in the employee’s favor. The PR DOL explains that employment statutes in PR should instead be subject to the general rules of interpretation applicable to all PR statutes set forth in Article 14 of the PR Civil Code. This article provides, “[w]hen a law is clear and free from all ambiguity, the letter of the same shall not be disregarded, under the pretext of fulfilling the spirit thereof.” P.R. Laws ann. tit. 31, §14. It is yet to be seen whether courts will follow the PR DOL’s guidelines in this regard.
The PR DOL also recognizes the LTFA’s position allowing employers to exercise the right to interpret their own rules and policies. To reserve this right, employers must expressly do so in their employment policies, in writing. The Guidelines explain that in such cases, courts shall not substitute their own interpretation for the employer’s as long as the employer’s is a possible and reasonable interpretation. This recognition benefits employers.
Chapter 2 – Grandfather Clause
The PR DOL here discusses Article 1.2 of the LFTA, which provides that employees hired prior to January 26, 2017 “shall continue to enjoy the same rights and benefits they enjoyed before [said date], as expressly provided in the Sections thereof [i.e. of the LTFA].” The PR DOL explains that in order to determine whether there were changes in the rights of employees hired prior to January 26, 2017, it is necessary to examine the wording of the statutory provision in controversy.
The following table includes a detailed summary of the rights of the employees hired prior to the approval of the LTFA, which are grandfathered pursuant to Article 1.2 of the LFTA:
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Overtime Payment |
Article 3.3 of the LTFA establishes that “any employer who employs or allows an employee to work overtime shall be required to pay such employee for each extra hour, at a rate of not less than one and one-half times the regular pay rate; provided, that the employees entitled to greater rights or benefits who were hired prior to the effective date of the ‘Labor Transformation and Flexibility Act’ shall maintain said rights or benefits.” |
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Meal Period Penalty |
Article 3.9 of the LTFA establishes that “any employer that employs or allows an employee to work during the meal period shall be required to pay said period or fraction thereof at a pay rate equal to one and one-half times the regular pay rate agreed on, provided that the employees who have the right to a pay rate higher than one and one-half times prior to the effective date of the ‘Labor Transformation and Flexibility Act’ shall maintain the same.” |
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Day of Rest |
Article 3.15 of the LTFA establishes that “any employer who employs or allows an employee to work on the day of rest provided in this Act shall be required to pay said employee for the hours worked during such day of rest at a compensation rate equal to one and one-half times the regular rates of pay agreed on, provided, that employees entitled to greater benefits prior to the effective date of the ‘Labor Transformation and Flexibility Act,’ shall keep said benefits.” |
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Vacation Accrual |
Article 3.18 of the LTFA establishes that “any employee who worked for an employer before the effective date of the ‘Labor Transformation and Flexibility Act,’ and who was entitled by law to monthly vacation and sick leave accrual rates higher than those provided in the ‘Labor Transformation and Flexibility Act,’ shall continue to enjoy such monthly leave accrual rates that applied to such employee before. This provision shall apply as long as he works for the same employer.” |
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Christmas Bonus |
Article 3.23 of the LTFA grandfathered the Christmas Bonus amount and the minimum number of hours an employee must work to be entitled to receive the bonus for employees hired prior to January 26, 2017. The minimum number of hours an employee must work to be entitled to receive the bonus for employees hired before January 26, 2017 is 700, and 1,350 for employees hired on or after January 26, 2017. |
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Severance Amount |
Article 4.3 of the LTFA grandfathered the severance amount with no cap for employees terminated without just cause who were hired before January 26, 2017. Employees hired on or after said date are subject to a different severance formula, which varies with years of service and are subject to a nine (9)-month severance cap. |
Chapter 3 – Employment Contract
Here, the Guidelines recognize—as established by the LTFA—that employment contracts can be either verbal or written, unless otherwise required by a special law, and must be drafted in any language the employee understands. The LFTA creates a presumption that if a written contract is signed by the employee, it was signed with knowledge of the language in which it was written and of its content. Any person over age 18 is authorized to enter into contracts as an employer or an employee. Employment of minors is still possible subject to the provisions and regulations under Act No. 230 of May 12, 1942, as amended.
As for independent contractors, the Guidelines address the judicial effect of Article 2.3 of the LFTA, which establishes an uncontested presumption of independent contractor status provided that all the specified requirements in that Article are met. In cases where the presumption does not apply, the determination of whether there is an employment or an independent contractor relationship will be made on the basis of commonly accepted criteria. In order to maintain a degree of certainty as to the nature of the relationship and to promote entrepreneurship, the so-called economic reality test will not be used unless Puerto Rico or federal law expressly requires its use or other criteria in that particular circumstance. It bears emphasis that under this new definition, a person may be considered an independent contractor for purposes of Puerto Rico law, but not under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act or the Federal Insurance Contributions Act.
The Guidelines also recognize that in any contract or employment document, acknowledging receipt or signature generated electronically has the same legal effect as though the acknowledgement was in writing. Similarly, when a copy of a document is required to be sent to an employee, or the employer is required to make written notices to employees, the use of an electronic version is valid and binding. The Guidelines clarify, however, that when an employment law—such as the Puerto Rico General Antidiscrimination Statute, Act No. 100 of June 30, 1959 and the Puerto Rico Employment Security Act of June 21, 1956—specifically requires notices to be posted, electronic posting will not suffice.
The Guidelines also recognize employees’ rights and responsibilities listed in Article 2.15 of the LFTA. Particularly noteworthy is the inclusion of the employee’s obligation not to compete with the employer’s business activities unless otherwise agreed to with the employer, and the obligation to contribute to improving the productivity and competitiveness of the employer's business.
Finally, with regard to temporary service employees, the Guidelines establish that after the approval of Act 4-2017, the new provisions on overtime payments and vacation accrual rates apply to all employees who began their relationship with a Temporary Service Company (TSC) on or after January 26, 2017, regardless of when the employees began work for the client company. Employees hired prior to January 26, 2017 will continue to enjoy the same rights and benefits they previously had. If, however, the employment relationship between the TSC and the employee ends, but another separate and independent employment relationship is later created between the same parties, the subsequent employment relationship will be presumed covered under a new contract subject to the amendments introduced by Act 4-2017. This presumption will apply so long as the termination of the old relationship and creation of the new one was not a subterfuge to enable the employee to accrue vacation and sick leave provided by Act 4-2017.
Stay tuned for a discussion of Chapters 4, 5 and 7, which will cover religious accommodation, wage and hour matters, flexible schedules, and the Christmas bonus.
