Author: Jennifer Carsen

FMLA certification Q&A for California employers

FMLA certification Q&A for California employers FMLA certification and other aspects of FMLA leaves can be frustrating and time-consuming. But it is in the employer’s best interest to get it right the first time to avoid giving more time off than is required. To complicate things further, California employers have to handle the California Family […]

Have a Heart for Wellness Training

February is American Heart Month, the perfect time to conduct a wellness training session on heart health. In order to reduce the risk of heart attack, employees must first understand the causes and contributing factors. That’s where safety and health training come in. Explain to employees how the heart receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs […]

Exemptions–Easiest Way to Run Afoul of WHD?

Exemptions are on the Wage & Hour Division’s hot list—and that means they should be on yours, too. In today’s Advisor, we’ll cover the slippery issue of the motor carrier exemption. For help with this tricky exemption, we turned to BLR’s Wage & Hour Compliance—Practical Solutions for HR. It says that the FLSA provides an […]

Health Care Survey Results in; How Do You Compare?

Wide range of costs per employee ranging from under $3,000 to over $10,000 per year 22 percent still cover 100% of insurance costs; an additional 46% cover at least 75 percent of costs 25% have considered dropping health benefits as a result of Affordable Care Act Here are the detailed survey results. How does your […]

Medicare Payment Does Not Trump Plan Exclusion: Specialty Rx Denial Stands

A federal district court blocked an effort to force an ERISA health plan to pay secondary for an expensive specialty drug that was excluded from coverage because it wasn’t filled at an in-network provider as required by plan terms. The U.S. District Court for Northern Illinois rejected the plaintiff‘s argument that whenever Medicare covered a […]

18 Questions for Comp Managers in 2013

Here are the questions Neelman asks clients to help them complete their planning for 2013. Neelman is a principal and senior consultant with Compensation Resources, Inc. in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Who are your best employees? Which employees truly impact your success? What employees can you least afford to lose? What are your strategies […]

Shhh! Do Your Workers Need Wellness Training on Weight Loss?

A study by The Conference Board states that more than one-third (34 percent) of all adult Americans now fit the definition of “obese,” more than double the percentage who were in that category 30 years ago. And your employees’ expanding waistlines have serious consequences both for their health and for your organization’s bottom line: Obese […]

ACA Makes Wellness Programs Even More Important

In yesterday’s Advisor, attorney Frank C. Morris Jr. covered legal issues around wellness programs; today, his take on how the ACA will make wellness even more attractive for employers, plus an introduction to the all-HR-in-one website, HR.BLR.com. Your wellness program may get way more important under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), says Morris, a member […]

Consider Public/Private Training Programs to Help with Your Training Needs

New and expanding companies in Louisiana may be eligible for free, customized training through Louisiana Economic Development’s (LED) award-winning workforce development program. LED FastStart offers training development and delivery, as well as employee recruitment and screening, at no cost to Louisiana companies that are creating at least 15 new manufacturing jobs or 50 new service-related […]

Compensation Update: Tips, Trends, and Tactics for 2013

Negative staffing and salary actions will decrease in 2013, says a recent Compensation Resources, Inc. survey. Neelman is a principal and senior consultant with the firm, which is located in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Salary Action Outlook Strategy Change (up or down) from 2012 to 2013 (Projected) Layoffs ↓ Hiring Freezes ↓ Staffing Increases […]