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7 Questions to Answer Before Writing Severance Checks

Like most everything in HR, severance programs have their pitfalls. Here, with a tip of the hat to Compensation.BLR.com®, are seven key questions you must address before cutting checks. Every business should have established guidelines concerning severance pay. Guidelines are critical to protecting the employer from lawsuits based on claims of unfair business practices or […]

Spending More on Separation May Cost Less

Employers conducting layoffs often seek the least expensive way. After all, saving money is the whole purpose, right? But recent research suggests that spending some money to do it right may pay off way more than it costs. DBM, a leading outplacement and career management firm, recently released the results of a study titled “Global […]

Notice Periods for Older Employees – 69-Year-Old Gets 24 Months

By Dominique Launay In Quebec, an employer may fire an employee with “reasonable notice” of termination or pay in lieu of notice unless there’s a contract dealing with termination or there’s “just cause” for dismissal (and save for specific statutory regimes). Like the rest of Canada, reasonable notice is determined on a case-by-case basis taking […]

Keep the Reins on HR to Preserve Privilege

In yesterday’s Advisor, attorney James Boudreau warned about the "phantom class action." Today, we’ll get more of his tips, and we’ll take a look at a unique HR audit program that will help you to find potential legal problems before the lawyers—or the feds—do. Boudreau’s remarks came at a Littler Mendelson Employer Conference in New […]

Senate Hearing on Pay Equity May Discuss Paycheck Fairness Act

A Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) Committee hearing on pay equity, scheduled for Thursday, March 11, may revive discussion of the stalled Paycheck Fairness Act. The Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 182; H.R. 11) was sponsored before the Senate in January 2009 by then-Senator Hillary Clinton and Representative Rosa DeLauro. Representative DeLauro will appear […]

Hot List: The Library Journal’s Best Business Books of 2009

In its 133rd year of publication, Library Journal is the oldest and most respected publication covering the library field, with review sections evaluating nearly 7000 books annually, along with hundreds of audiobooks, videos, databases, web sites, and systems that libraries buy.  Recently, Library Journal released its list of the 32 best business books of 2009, […]

Beware the Phantom Class Action

Demand letters masquerading as class action suits are threatening organizations across the country. You haven’t heard about phantom suits, says attorney James Boudreau, because they don’t get filed. But these insidious attacks are costing employers plenty. Boudreau’s remarks came at a Littler Mendelson Employer Conference in New York City. Boudreau is a partner in the […]

‘Bring-Your-Gun to-Work’ Bill Awaits Governor’s Signature

by David Wagner, Mitzi Martin, and Susan Kline Late Thursday, the Indiana Legislature passed, with overwhelming support, a bill prohibiting employers from keeping employees’ legally-possessed firearms off their property, so long as the firearms are kept out of sight in a locked vehicle. The bill, which mirrors laws in 12 states and was supported by […]

Posturing, Politics, and Partisanship . . . But No Progress

I came away from last week’s health care summit scratching my head. What exactly was accomplished that moved our country one step closer to resolution of the health care debate? From what I can tell, absolutely nothing. There was certainly plenty of posturing. Both Democrats and Republicans pretended to be interested in working with the […]

COBRA Subsidies Extended

President Obama has signed legislation extending the deadline for COBRA continuation coverage subsidies, allowing workers who are involuntarily terminated in March to qualify for the program. The Senate approved the legislation, the Temporary Extension Act of 2010 (H. R. 4691), late on Tuesday.