Employee Handbooks Q&A
Employers often have some basic questions about employee handbooks. We’ll tackle a few of them today and tomorrow.
Archives
Similarly Situated Employees Doesn’t Mean Identical, Seventh Circuit Says
by Jeffrey S. Beck Most employers are aware that to meet the burden of establishing a discrimination claim under the indirect method (i.e., without “smoking gun” evidence of discriminatory intent), an employee must offer evidence that similarly situated individuals outside her protected class were treated more favorably. While that principle is well established, cases can […]
FMLA Substitution Rules: Not as Simple as They Seem
FMLA basics are confusing enough. And then each aspect—substitution, bonuses, holidays, etc.—seems to have its own tricky twist. Let’s let the “FMLA Bible” sort it out. Substitution Required? Notice Required Employees may choose to substitute accrued paid leave for FMLA, or the company can require it. (Many do.) However, it’s not quite as simple as […]
Employers Take Note: Commuting by Public Transit On the Rise
Employers should take note: more of their employees are coming to and going from the office via public transportation. That’s more than an interesting statistic — it has implications for employers. Employees who take public transportation to work may benefit from a tax break, but only if their employer sponsors a qualified transportation fringe benefit […]
Armchair Manager: What Sports Can Teach Us About Management
What’s more, an athlete often has to deal with teammates, a coach, and management or governing bodies. There always seems to be something going on in the sporting world that lends itself to the drama of the human theater. There are a number of current situations playing themselves out that deserve some analysis and reflection […]
GAO Recommends Stepping Up Retirement Education Efforts to Small Businesses
Small businesses that seek to improve their retirement plans should have access to more information from the federal government. That is the recommendation of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which in a recent report steers clear of advocating bold moves and suggests that the federal government improve what it’s already doing in order to better […]
Workers’ Compensation Versus Other Employment Laws
“The difficult workers’ compensation problems are only one aspect of a multi-dimensional employment law problem.”, noted David Schmit in a BLR webinar titled “Workers’ Comp: How to Discipline or Terminate Claimants While Minimizing Your Legal Risks,”. If you’ve been considering firing an employee who is out on workers’ comp leave – or recently back from […]
Triton HR and BLR®—Business & Legal Resources announce Strategic Partnership
Triton HR and BLR—Business & Legal Resources today announced their strategic partnership Woodbridge, NJ (March 13, 2012) Triton HR, spearheading a complete Web-based HR/Payroll solution in Human Resources management for small to mid-sized companies and BLR®—Business & Legal Resources, helping HR, Safety and Environmental professionals with legal compliance and professional support resources, today announced their […]
401(k) Disclosures: How to Handle Employee Questions
Studies show that the vast majority of 401(k) participants believe their plan is free. There may be a rude awakening the first time you inform them of the fees being charged. What to do? Again, we turn to BLR’s New 401(k) Fee Disclosure Compliance Download Report for help. Preparing Staff to Handle Questions/Concerns Preparing staff […]
5 Basic Rules for Understanding Travel Pay in California
Experts say travel pay disputes – from business trips and mandatory off-site training to commuting time, waiting time, and on-call time – could fuel an enormous surge in lawsuits filed by workers in 2012 and beyond. Why? Many employers haven’t updated their workplace policies in recent years to keep up with changing federal and state […]