Author: Heather Hunt

Survey Says: More Employers Offer Financial Education

Half of employers in a recent survey have seen an increased demand from employees for financial education in the past 5 years, and 68 percent now offer some kind of financial education to their employees/plan participants. Preliminary findings of the survey report, “Financial Education for Today’s Workforce: 2014 Survey Results,” show that there is a […]

What Should Be Included in Anti-harassment Training?

Does your organization provide anti-harassment training for employees and managers? One of the main reasons anti-harassment training is important is that employers have an obligation to provide a safe workplace—one that is free of harassment. If an employer does not take proactive steps to ensure such an environment, that employer will find it much more […]

FMLA Certification: Getting Clarification and Authentication

What should an employer do when an FMLA certification form is received that is unclear? Perhaps it's filled out completely, but the handwriting is illegible in some places. Or perhaps it appears as though it may have been filled out by someone other than the person who signed it. What actions can be taken without […]

FMLA Certification: Getting Clarification and Authentication

What should an employer do when an FMLA certification form is received that is unclear? Perhaps it's filled out completely, but the handwriting is illegible in some places. Or perhaps it appears as though it may have been filled out by someone other than the person who signed it. What actions can be taken without […]

Inspired by a Profound Moment at the Austin Airport

I’m sitting in the airport in Austin, Texas, and the faint and rare sound of a bagpipe can be heard in the background. It seems, at the very least, out of place in a major-city airport. As the sound grows louder, it’s clear that whoever is playing the instrument is drawing closer. In the distance, […]

Make Metrics Meaningful to Management

Metrics let people make decisions based on objective information rather than simply guessing or going by instinct. Metrics also let people know what is important to the organization, since a metric that is tracked will be analyzed. HR metrics have historically often focused on the past. For example, HR metrics often include things like turnover […]

Court Allows ERISA Plan to Deny Coverage to Same-Gender Spouse

A self-insured employer that explicitly excludes same-gender spouses from health plan coverage did not violate ERISA’s benefit interference or fiduciary breach provisions by having such exclusionary language, a federal district court in New York ruled. A same-gender couple had argued that, in light of U.S. v. Windsor, because the plan declined to cover the spouse, the employer interfered […]

Top 10: Compensation & Benefits Daily Advisor

9 Thinks You MUST NOT Include in Your Documentation Yesterday’s Advisor presented Attorney Franck Wobst’s key things you should include in documentation. Today, 9 things not to include, plus an introduction to Employee Compensation in Your State. Crimson Tide Coach Offers Seven Lessons for Every Manager Some of you might get tired of my use […]

Easy-Reference Electrical Safety Training Handout

May is Electrical Safety Month, so this is a great time to give your workers this handy reminder of electric safety best practices. Electrical Safety Do’s and Don’ts Checklist DO: Check wiring to make sure it’s properly insulated and the right choice for the job (e.g., labeled for use outdoors or in work areas with […]

Unclaimed Wages: The Due Diligence Requirement

Did you know that unclaimed wages must be turned over to the state? There are unclaimed property laws in each state requiring employers to report on unclaimed wages and eventually turn them over to the state after a period of dormancy if they remain unclaimed.