Most Popular

Want to Avoid FLSA Problems? Do a Self-Audit

FLSA violations are now the Department of Labor’s top enforcement target. Here’s how to use a self-audit to stay out of the bull’s-eye. In yesterday’s article on telecommuters suing their employers, most of the legal action described was over the issue of overtime payments. With workers geographically outside the employer’s control, there often is no […]

Summertime heat wave could be hazardous to employees’ health

by Jodi R. Bohr Because I’m an Arizona native, you would think I would be able to tolerate the excessive heat that visits the Phoenix area every summer. For the most part, I can. I plan my day around early morning errands and hole up the rest of the day in air-conditioned indoors. I never […]

Phoning it in: Termination appropriate for employee who called in ‘sick’

By Hannah Roskey Determining the legitimacy of an employee’s illness is a tricky situation for employers across Canada. The Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench recently took a firm stance on the abuse of sick leave and found in favor of the employer in Telus Communications Inc. v. Telecommunications Workers’ Union. Telus was correct in firing […]

Changing Up the Workplace to Spur Creativity

It’s hard to find the perfect workplace, and much of what makes a workplace “perfect” depends on the nature of the work being done. A quiet, secluded office devoid of any distractions might be perfect for powering through mundane, repetitive work. But it wouldn’t necessarily lend itself to creativity. The Creative Power of Public Spaces […]

retirement

IRS 2016 Required Amendments List Gives First Guidance on Changes Needed to Retain Qualification

by Jane Meacham The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), in its first “Required Amendments (RA) List” on December 13, 2016, informed individually designed employer-sponsored retirement plans about required amendments for 2016 that may be needed to reflect changes and ensure the plans keep their qualified status. In the release, IRS Notice 2016-80, the agency also said […]

We’ve Come a Long Way (Except for Michael and Dwight)

Litigation Value: $50,000. In this week’s episode of The Office, Michael Scott is on camera calling Kelly Kapoor dusky and exotic, and then Dwight Schrute, the assistant to the regional manager, refers to her southern India birth before he threatens her. A jury somewhere will find against Dunder Mifflin for race discrimination. Of course, that […]