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This Strange but True story is about a small, rural town where the two law enforcement officers don’t carry guns. No, it’s not the plot of The Andy Griffith Show. And the cops can’t carry guns. It’s really an HR case study on background checks, and the only employee without a record is a dog—literally! […]
Both enrollment in health savings account (HSA)-eligible health plans and the number of HSAs have grown significantly since HSAs first became available in 2004; as a result, HSAs have become a significant part of employment-based health plans, according to an issue brief from the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI).
No Surprises, Please One of the most cited problems with performance appraisals is the blow to morale and productivity in the time leading up to—and for months after—when the information is delivered. Why? Because employees don’t know what to expect and managers are reluctant to deliver bad news. But, to every extent possible, the contents […]
Healthcare coverage has been a hot button issue for employers since President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law in 2010. With President-elect Donald Trump taking office, there has been much speculation over whether or not the ACA will be repealed. Only time will tell if the ACA survives a Trump presidency, but […]
SBT readers have been submitting their own strange but true encounters with job applicants. So far we’ve heard about inappropriate attire and drug use, to name a few. Here are two more tales from the unpredictable world of HR. A Russian Request Depending on the company’s policy towards vacation time, requesting time off before being […]
By Gwen Cofield Now that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has begun prescreening questionnaires for Phase 2 privacy and security audits, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-covered entities should make sure they’re prepared on the compliance areas HHS’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has indicated it plans to emphasize.
A new report from Aon Hewitt estimates that the average cost increases for employer-sponsored medical plans globally will be 9.1% in 2016—5.5 percentage points higher than the global average projected inflation rate of 3.6%.
The Americans with Disabilities Act’s employment protections only extend to individuals with disabilities who can perform the essential functions of their jobs. And when it comes to deciding which functions are “essential,” courts continue to defer to employers’ judgment. In Knutson v. Schwan’s Home Service, Inc., No. 12-2240, (April 3, 2013), the U.S. 8th Circuit […]
Dwight Shurte and Creed Bratton from The Office both have blogs. Dwight warns readers that they shouldn’t be reading his blog while they are at work. Employment law attorney Troy Foster reminds HR and employers that they should have policies about employees blogging about work as well as at work. With another week with no […]