Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
There are dozens of details to take care of in the day-to-day operation of your department and your company. We give you case studies, news updates, best practices and training tips that keep your organization fully in compliance with ever-changing employment law, and you fully aware of emerging HR trends.
The long-awaited final Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in January become effective on March 26. According to the HHS, the regulations represent “the most sweeping changes to the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules since they were first implemented.” The regulations are […]
What do the Washington State Department of Personnel (DOP), Agile Software, and the Ritz Carlton Hotels have in common? All use the “10-Minute Stand-Up”—a no-chairs-allowed daily meeting to beat the endless meeting syndrome. Washington State DOP At the Washington State DOP, the meetings take time—but not much—to: Recap the previous day’s results. Review plans for […]
How can you stay in compliance with workers’ compensation laws when disciplining a worker who was previously injured? Administering discipline in this scenario can be tricky, but it can be accomplished by following some guidelines: have good cause, treat employees consistently, and have good documentation. Workers’ Comp 101: Disciplining an Injured Worker with Good Cause […]
It was a surprise birthday party for the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), says Susan Schoenfeld, JD; on February 5, 2013, exactly 20 years after the FMLA was signed, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a Final Rule ahead of the planned regulatory schedule. Just what HR was hoping for—more complicated regulations. The […]
Dealing with depression and work restrictions for an employee can be complex. Oftentimes the first piece of information an employer receives about an employee’s medical condition, especially for depression or other mental illnesses, is a note from the doctor that outlines some type of restriction, such as “James must be off of work this week […]
Local governments and municipalities face many of the same wage and hour challenges as other employers, but they must deal with unique issues that could subject them to litigation if they aren’t fully up-to-speed on their compliance obligations. One tricky issue involves the proper classification of all workers — whether they fall under one of […]
A surprising 86% of employers offer either a 401(k) or 403(b) retirement savings plan to employees, according to the 1261 respondents to our recent survey of retirement benefit practices. Only 33% of those who answered the question, however, automatically enroll employees, though 2.5% plan to implement auto-enrollment in the future. Other survey highlights: Most common […]
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) announced on March 12 it will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review an appeals court decision that says the appointment of two Board members is invalid. In consultation with the Justice Department, the NLRB said it intends to file a petition by the April 25 deadline for Supreme […]
Independent medical review (IMR) is the largest change in California’s SB 863, which has been widely lauded as a “new and improved” workers’ compensation reform package. The new law addresses problems that arose out of the 2004 reforms by minimizing delays in medical treatment and improving access to care.
Two employers entered into settlement agreements with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in February after the federal agency alleged the companies had violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. Both employers, the commission said, fired employees who were entitled to leave as accommodations for their disabilities. The first involved Doneen King, an employee with the […]