Author: Stephen Bruce, PhD, PHR

OFCCP—Out of Nowhere to New Aggressive Stance

In yesterday’s Advisor, attorney David Fortney briefed on OFCCP’s new affirmative action regulations. Today, more on the OFCCP plus links to a free 21-page OFCCP compliance guide. With the OFCCP (Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs), it’s not only the two new challenging requirements concerning veterans and employees with disabilities, but it’s also a new […]

Are Your HAZWOPER Responders Trained for Their Duties?

Here’s a quick review of HAZWOPER emergency responder training requirements. Skilled Support Personnel According to the HAZWOPER mandatory compliance guidelines (Appendix C), employees who are not part of the Emergency Response Program and who may be called to the incident scene to provide emergency support assistance (e.g., public works department staff, operators of bulldozers, sand […]

The Eight Myths of Mediation

The Employers’ Counsel Network includes the attorneys from each state who write BLR’s state employment law newsletters. Marcus is one of the EEOC mediators based in the Boston office of the EEOC. Mediation vs. Enforcement Marcus explains the essential differences between the mediation and enforcement roles of her agency: Enforcement Find out what happened. Determine […]

New AA Regs Puzzle and Mystify

Some organizations have decided that the new affirmative action regulations will be so burdensome that they are working their way out of contractor status, says attorney David Fortney. “We’re tired of being hassled,” they say, and they are wrapping up their government contracts. Fortney told the story of a company that was approached by a […]

Reform Agencies Clarify Cost Sharing and Essential Services

A series of agency Q&As resolves a few questions relating to complying with federal health care reform, such as correctly counting participants’ out-of-pocket expenditures; wellness program reward administration; and the status of “carved-out” benefits. In latest set of Frequently Asked Questions, the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury provide some […]

Healthcare Benefits—What’s Really Happening in 2014?

Health insurance benefits—bound to be the hot topic of 2014. How are people handling it out in the real world? What are your competitors up to? Help us find out! Please participate in our brief survey and see how what you are doing stacks up against what other successful companies are doing. We’ll get answers […]

Healthcare Benefits—What’s Really Happening in 2014?

Please participate in our brief survey and see how what you are doing stacks up against what other successful companies are doing. We’ll get answers to these questions and more: How do 2014 plans compare to 2013? How are businesses dealing with the ACA? What types of health insurance plans are being offered in 2014? […]

Social Learning Technology for Companies of All Sizes

In fact, more than 65 percent of companies that participated in a recent survey reported that they are using social learning technology. “State of the Industry Study: A Pulse on Social Learning” surveyed 500-plus decision makers at companies of all sizes and in a variety of industries. The study, conducted by Saba®, in partnership with […]

2nd Circuit Reverses Xerox Plan’s Use of ‘Phantom’ Offset

For the third time in eight years, a federal district court decision endorsing Xerox’s pension plan interpretation has been reversed, setting aside judicial deference usually granted to these interpretations under ERISA and moving Xerox retirees closer to winning final benefits. The issue in the case is how an earlier lump-sum distribution to some employees affects […]