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DOL Sues ESOP Fiduciaries for Failing to Protect Plan Assets

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has filed a lawsuit against the fiduciaries of a Virginia-based employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), alleging the defendants failed to protect the assets of the plan as it purchased nearly $21 million in company shares from the president of Sentry Equipment Erectors Inc., who was also a trustee of […]

‘I am appalled’ by SHRM/HRCI Brouhaha (Talk-Back)

Two readers cleverly turned the sample question against SHRM. (See “Back at You” below.) Here are the responses: ****************************************************** I am appalled at these two are having such a dispute. They should find common ground for the benefit of Advancing the Profession. Grow Up! ****************************************************** I have been SPHR-certified for several years and the news […]

DOL’s New Facts on FMLA, Joint Employment

By Susan Schoenfeld, JD In early 2016, the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released an Administrator’s Interpretation addressing joint employment under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA). In conjunction with this release, the DOL also issued a new fact sheet […]

Risks of Noncompliance with Employment Law Increase Say BLR Editors

BLR’s HR editors recently shared their insights about challenges in 2013. In today’s Advisor, why compliance is going to get tougher in 2013, plus an introduction to the guide especially geared to smaller or one-person HR departments. For 2013, it’s likely that the risks of noncompliance with employment-related laws are just going to get higher, […]

Preventing Competitors from Tapping Your Secrets

Many companies accumulate trade secrets, such as pricing schemes, business plans, and production shortcuts, but they don’t want competitors to tap into this private reserve of knowledge. The easiest way  for a competitor to obtain these secrets is by hiring one of your key employees. A recent case from the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of […]

What Happens When Recruiters Get It Wrong?

One common challenge in finding and hiring the best talent is the disconnect between hiring managers and recruiters, which can lead to pricey errors. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates the cost of a bad hire at 30 percent of an employee’s first year earnings. With that type of money on the line, hiring managers […]

Two OSHA Settlements Remind Employers—Train for Workplace Violence!

In most arenas—including training—it pays to learn from mistakes, whether they are yours or someone else’s. Two companies drew the attention of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and training on workplace violence was a part of each settlement. Read on for the facts. Two healthcare organizations have agreed to […]

Noncompete Contracts Protect Your Business in a High-Turnover Job Market

In a job market with high turnover rates, noncompete contracts are useful ways to protect your business in industries that are susceptible to damage when an employee brings knowledge of internal operations to other companies. This article is meant to help you decide whether your business would benefit from a noncompete contract for your employees […]