Author: Heather Hunt

Train Supervisors to Avoid 6 Common Mistakes

To recap the discussion we began yesterday, remember that supervisors play a particularly critical role in compliance. They must be familiar and comfortable with organizational policies and with employment-related laws. They have to adhere carefully to proper and legal practices, and ensure that their employees do the same. But they also have to get things […]

Voluntary Benefits—The Importance of Guaranteed Insurability

In yesterday’s Advisor, consultant Mike Miles presented the case for offering voluntary benefits to employees. Today, more on benefits, plus an introduction to a timely webcast on conducting legal background checks. Employees may think that they can’t afford a big policy, but it’s often a good idea to join the plan at the lowest level […]

2014 Minimum Wage Increases Loom in More than a Dozen States

Annual minimum wage increases kick in on Jan. 1, 2014, giving employers in many states just a few short weeks to get payroll practices in order before new minimum wage requirements take effect. As of press time, minimum wages in 14 states are slated to increase in 2014. Most are effective Jan. 1, but at […]

Critical in Violence Prevention: Plain Talk, No Codes

Sem’s general observations: Badly handled or emotional discipline, refusal of service, or termination often triggers the violence. Never discipline, terminate, or refuse service with emotion. Violence is evolutionary. It tends to escalate. Most situations do show some warning signs. In many situations, people knew something was wrong and didn’t do anything. Generally, someone is aware […]

Do You Train Supervisors Not to Make These 6 Common Mistakes?

Supervisors play a particularly critical role in compliance. They must be familiar and comfortable with organizational policies and with employment-related laws. They have to adhere carefully to proper and legal practices, and ensure that their employees do the same. But they also have to get things done. You’re asking quite a lot of your supervisors. […]

Voluntary Benefits: ‘Garbage’ Policies or Bargain Benefits?

While voluntary benefits are scoffed at by some as “garbage benefits that never pay,” such benefits may be very attractive to some employees and may help companies currently reviewing their benefits packages in light of the Affordable Care Act, says consultant Mike Miles. Miles is vice president and senior employee benefits consultant at Gregory and […]

Insurers Must Use Standard CMS Letters When Restoring Policies

Insurers may not modify or customize letters telling policyholders they can have their cheap health coverage back for one more year if it was cancelled due to health care reform. States may customize the letters, but only if the result is a letter that is more consumer protective and detailed than the federal template. That’s […]

Pay or Play? Pros and Cons

Gillihan is counsel in the Atlanta office of Alston & Bird LLP. His tips came at a recent webinar sponsored by BLR® and HR Hero®. Reasons for having insurance from employee’s perspective: Risk mitigation Negotiated discounts Reasons to Get Insurance Through the Employer: The income tax/Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) exemption for employer premiums and […]

Cross-Training Case Study Continued

To read the details of this case, please click here. The Rest of ‘Rose’s’ Story One business day before Rose was supposed to return to work, she was instructed, via a voice-mail message, to contact a supervisor to retrieve her employee badge privately, so she could avoid doing so in front of other employees in […]

Play or Pay? Pros and Cons

In yesterday’s Advisor, attorney Ashley Gillihan offered critical definitions of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) terms of art. Today, his pros and cons of dropping/maintaining coverage, plus an introduction to the all-things-HR-in-one-place website, HR.BLR.com. Gillihan is counsel in the Atlanta office of Alston & Bird LLP. His tips came at a recent webinar […]