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Special from HRTech: Workplace, Wearables, and Wellness

Offering the Fitbit wearable tracker to a wellness program really jumpstarts your efforts, says Indiana University Health Manager of Customer Success Marci Cooper. Fitbit devices measure a variety of health related factors including, for example, steps per day, minutes active, and a variety of other measures depending on the device chosen. Fitbit is giving away […]

Does Banishing Scents Make Sense at Work?

It seems that the number of people with allergies or sensitivities to various scents and smells has grown substantially. Some of those allergies can be severe, causing severe respiratory difficulties and other serious health issues. Questions continue to arise about the often competing rights of allergic employees and coworkers who wish to be able to […]

maternity

Parental Leave Bill Is Vetoed

California’s governor vetoed a bill September 30 that would have granted 6 weeks of “parental leave” to some employees in the state. Governor Jerry Brown (D) said in a letter to lawmakers that he was particularly concerned about the impact the law would have on small businesses.

Age Discrimination: Court Rejects Claim By Older Worker Who Lost Job After Restructuring; A Case Study Of What The Employer Did Right

Many human resource managers worry about age bias suits whenever there’s a reorganization and older workers who don’t fit in the new company structure are terminated. But if you can show that your motives are business-related and you handle the situation properly, you’ll go a long way toward avoiding liability. Here’s a look at one […]

Injuries to Nursing Home Workers

OSHA Targets Nursing Homes in New National Emphasis Program

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched a National Emphasis Program (NEP) that for the next three years will step up inspections of health hazards to workers in the nursing and residential care industry. A statement from OSHA quotes figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showing that workers in nursing and […]

Pay Never Goes Down? Another Bad Habit

In yesterday’s Advisor, we featured the first three of Stacey Carroll and Al Lee’s “bad compensation habits.” Today, more bad habits, and an introduction to a unique FLSA audit system that detects problems before the feds do. Carroll is Director of Professional Services and Education at Payscale, Inc.; Lee is Director of Qualitative Analytics. Their […]

Family and Medical Leave: A Spotlight on Time Off for Adoption or Foster Care

A new department of Labor opinion letter sheds light on when an employee does—and doesn’t—have the right to FMLA leave when adopting a child or receiving a child for foster care. We’ll explain the rules and point out some key differences in this area between the FMLA and the California Family Rights Act (CFRA). FMLA […]

Rules for QHP Transparency Soon Will Apply to Employers

Insurers and plan sponsors soon will have to report to the government (and list on a web page) their policies on: out-of-network liability and balance billing; enrollee claim submission; claims and denials; recoupment of overpayments; medical necessity; prior authorization; drug exception timeframes; explanations of benefits; and coordination of benefits. Guidance HHS published on Aug. 12 […]

Increased Enforcement of Labor Laws a Top Priority for Obama Administration

One of the clearest indications of an administration’s priorities is the budget and the amount of funding provided to various programs. Budgets always have winners and losers and reflect the degree to which programs will be implemented. A review of President Barack Obama’s proposed budget and recent agency actions demonstrates that increased enforcement of labor […]