Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
A quick update on the case involving the state of Vermont’s demand for claims data from Liberty Mutual’s group health plan — the state agreed to drop its immediate demand for this information, pending the ultimate outcome of the lawsuit. The state’s health and insurance agency had issued a subpoena for this data, and Liberty […]
The number of fatal workplace injuries in 2010 was slightly lower than the number in 2009, according to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, which the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released on August 25. A preliminary total of 4,547 fatal work injuries was recorded in 2010, a minor decrease from 4,551 fatal injuries recorded […]
An insurance company recently sued the state of Vermont to block its attempt to get details on the employees and family members enrolled in the company’s group health plan, and the actual claims they’ve submitted. Vermont health care regulators want this information for a database designed to measure and improve the quality of health care […]
A new rule from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is being touted by the agency as a moderate measure aimed at ensuring that workers understand their rights, but it’s drawing fire from some employers who call it a “punitive new rule” from a federal agency overreaching its authority. The NLRB issued a final rule […]
First of all, what’s the controversy? Con: Checks Are Dangerous Experts against doing social media background checks say that they are dangerous, for several reasons: In doing these checks, you’re bound to find out information about applicants that you don’t want, such as race, religion, age, etc. Even though it’s obtained innocently, that information […]
Counting down the weeks until the new season of The Office starts. Tonight’s rerun episode — “Dwight K. Schrute, (Acting) Manager” — was first covered by my Office (and office) mate Jaclyn West; check it out, it’s a great read (http://blogs.hrhero.com/thatswhatshesaid/2011/05/14/straight-shooter/). Poking around The Office website on nbc.com, I came across a web exclusive: a […]
By Stephen D. Bruce, PHR Editor, HR Daily Advisor Should you be doing background checks on Google, Facebook, and other websites? Experts come down on both sides of the question, so let’s find out what’s happening in the real world. First of all, what’s the controversy? Con: Checks Are Dangerous Experts against doing social media […]
Do you have to file the new Form 8955-SSA? If so, you may be able to breathe — and file — a little more easily. The IRS recently provided Announcement 2011-21 clarifying how the form is to be used, including how it is to be signed and electronically filed. The IRS also has provided additional information […]
If employees in a brokerage company merely comply with client wishes by executing transactions for them, the brokerage must properly classify their status under the Fair Labor Standards Act, and pay them overtime, when they work more than 40 hours in a work week. If the brokerage wants to exempt employees from the law’s overtime […]
In the waning days of the COBRA premium subsidy, The Commonwealth Fund is calling for the program to be resuscitated as a way to help unemployed and uninsured workers until health care reform is fully implemented. In an Aug. 24 issue brief, the Fund noted that “the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression has […]