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Wage and Hour: New FLSA Overtime Calculator

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has unveiled a free, new Web-based tool to help employers and employees calculate overtime pay under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The tool provides examples of how FLSA overtime should be completed under some scenarios. The Overtime Calculator advisor computes overtime pay due in […]

Retirement and Pension Plans: IRS Issues Final 409A Rules

The Treasury Department and the IRS have issued final rules regarding section 409A nonqualified deferred compensation plans and arrangements. The new regulations provide extensive information on how employers can identify nonqualified deferred compensation plans and arrangements subject to section 409A, along with rules to help employers and employees comply. Plans and arrangements affected by the […]

Downsizing: How Can We Prevent Unfounded Lawsuits After RIFs?

Our company is going to go through a prolonged period of significant downsizing. A recent seminar told us to expect a retaliatory wave of unfounded allegations, grievances, and lawsuits by disgruntled employees. Can you suggest steps we can take to protect ourselves against these attacks? Should we retain specialists? What do you recommend we do?  […]

Employment Law Tip: When Is Accommodation an Undue Hardship?

If a disabled employee needs an accommodation so he or she can continue to perform the job, you don’t have to provide any accommodation that would be an undue hardship for you. Generally, undue hardship means that providing the reasonable accommodation would result in significant difficulty or expense, based on your resources and the operation […]

Disability Bias: Disability-Based Misconduct Is Part of Disability, Says Court

The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers California, has released a controversial new opinion suggesting that the Americans with Disabilities Act protects misconduct stemming from a disability as part and parcel of the disability itself. The case involved Stephanie Gambini, an employee of Total Renal Care, Inc, who suffered from bipolar disorder. Gambini […]

Disabled Workers: New ADA Guidance for Healthcare Industry

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has released a new fact sheet explaining how the Americans with Disabilities Act applies to job applicants and employees in the healthcare industry–the largest industry in the American economy. The new publication is the latest in a series of fact sheets on specific disabilities and industries. It is available […]

Employment Law Tip: What’s the Purpose of Exit Interviews?

Exit interviews are normally held with employees who have decided to terminate their employment or who have been discharged for cause. One purpose of conducting these interviews is to give departing workers the chance to express their thoughts, whether positive or negative, about the resignation or termination decision, as well as to offer their suggestions […]

Wage and Hour: Labor Commissioner Proposes Rules for Employee Expense Reimbursement

The California Labor Code requires employers to repay employees for all necessary expenditures employees incur in performing their jobs. However, the law doesn’t provide guidance as to what precisely must be reimbursed and at what rates, or whether paying an increased salary or commission satisfies the reimbursement requirement. Now, the labor commissioner has issued proposed […]

Disabilities: How Should We Deal With an Employee We Think Is Mentally Ill?

We have an employee with what I think are mental health problems. The person has angry outbursts—not violent exactly, but pretty wild when they happen. My question is, how do we approach this person? I don’t think I should be saying, “Hey, I think you have manic depression,” but I don’t know what approach is […]

Drugs & Alcohol: Do I Have to Interview an Applicant Who Takes Medical Marijuana?

One of our current employees has referred a friend for employment under our employee referral program, which rewards employees who refer applicants if we end up hiring them. The employee mentioned that the friend uses marijuana for medical purposes. I don’t really want to consider this person because we are a drug-free workplace, but I’m […]