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Rhode Island joins states with ‘ban the box’ laws

by Timothy C. Cavazza Rhode Island’s new law prohibiting employers from asking on employment applications whether an applicant has ever been “convicted of a crime” takes effect on January 1. Despite the initial ban, employers are permitted to “ask an applicant for information about his or her criminal convictions at the first interview or thereafter, […]

Employers need to be ready for new California law on same-sex harassment

by Tara K. Clancy and Kristine W. Hanson A new California law means employees who file same-sex harassment cases should have an easier time getting relief from the courts. Senate Bill (SB) 292, which was signed into law in August and takes effect in January, means employees don’t have to have evidence that sexual desire […]

11 Common Workplace Privacy Issues (and 4 Common-Law Claims)

Although employers generally possess a significant degree of latitude with regard to maintaining the integrity of company products, monitoring productivity, and ensuring a safe worksite, employers must balance such interests with the interests of their employees to maintain a degree of privacy.

High Court Ruling on ‘Stock-Drop’ Could Chase Company Shares out of 401(k)s

A brief from the U.S. Solicitor General recommending that the U.S. Supreme Court hear a “stock-drop” class-action case could make it the most important ERISA litigation of the High Court’s current term. Employee benefits attorneys watching the case’s progress say a High Court decision could deter employers from offering employer stock as a 401(k) plan […]

What Did You Learn About Exec Comp to Apply to 2014?

Executive Compensation Checklist General       Do you have a plan for executive compensation? Yes□  No□ Is it in writing? Yes□  No□ Does it have stated goals? Yes□  No□ Do those goals include:   Increasing productivity? Yes□  No□ Increasing quality? Yes□  No□ Retaining good employees? Yes□  No□ Attracting good employees? Yes□  No□ Rewarding good […]

Celebrate Worldwide, Come On

What’s the most common holiday celebrated worldwide? Survey says, New Year’s Day. Shown in infographic form on Mercer.com, ringing in the New Year was celebrated by 60 out of the 63 countries that were analyzed.

Hey Applicants—Orange Is Not the New Black

There has been a lot written about how job applicants’ attire can affect employers’ first impression of the candidate. For example, one study reported that 80 percent of hiring managers reported that shoes are “extremely important” to one’s interview appearance. Apart from shoes, there are a whole host of general no-no’s, like appearing messy or baring […]

Would You Take a Bullet for Your Boss?

A recent online survey of over 1,100 employees in the United Kingdom asked “Would you take a bullet for your boss?” Over 70 percent of respondents answered “No.” The survey was conducted for the website Bodyguard Services, and David Simmons, creator of the website, is not surprised that employees would not put themselves between a […]

New Hawaii law imposes new pay stub, record-keeping requirements

by Paul Saito A new law designed to help the state quickly determine whether employers are paying workers properly goes into effect January 1. Under the new law, Hawaii employers will be required to provide employees with additional information on all pay stubs and payroll records and maintain payroll records on company premises. During each […]

New Oregon law gives employees bereavement leave

by Calvin Keith Oregon will become the first state in the nation to require employers to provide bereavement leave when House Bill 2950 takes effect January 1. The new law allows for bereavement leave under the Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA). The law applies to any employer with 25 or more employees in Oregon. Any […]