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Maternity Benefits – No Legal Right for Adoptive Mothers

By Kate McNeill McCarthy Tetrault Across Canada, employment standards laws provide for job-protected maternity leave for pregnant employees and parental leave for parents generally. In addition, the federal government provides financial benefits during these leaves through its Employment Insurance Act (EIA). The Supreme Court of Canada recently declined to review an appeal of a decision […]

New regulations change details on workplace wellness programs

Final rules from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on employment-based wellness programs raise the maximum reward that may be offered by certain wellness programs and expand nondiscrimination protections for sick employees. The final rules under President Barack Obama’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act were issued May 29 and will be effective […]

News Flash: Bank Of America’s Adopt-An-ATM Program Stirs Up Controversy

Bank of America recently announced that it had implemented a new Adopt-An-ATM program. Employees who volunteer for the program are asked to clean their adopted machines, remove trash and trim surrounding shrubs—all on their own time without pay. California Labor Commissioner Marcy Saunders responded to the bank’s announcement by demanding that the program be abolished […]

5 Recruiting Mistakes to Avoid

Getting the right person in the right role is a big task. It takes a lot of time and effort to get right, so it pays to not let the entire process be undermined through avoidable mistakes. Here’s a list some common hiring and recruiting mistakes to avoid!

Disabilities: How Do We Determine Whether an Employee Is a Safety Threat?

We have a large workforce, and many people operate machinery, fork trucks, etc. Plus, many handle hazardous substances. We now think that some employees have medical conditions that may cause them to lose concentration, and we have some other employees who may be taking medications that might affect their ability to work safely. How do […]

New Orleans restricts use of consumer credit checks

by H. Mark Adams A new ordinance in New Orleans will prohibit contractors doing business with the city from using consumer credit background checks and consumer credit history in making new-hire and other employment decisions. The ordinance will affect new city contracts entered into on or after December 23. Employees who perform fewer than 40 […]

Steps to Take When Legal Actions Threaten

As soon as you sense that action is being taken against your organization by an employee or former employee, it’s time to swing into action, says attorney Stephen Harris. When you delay, you increase risk. Harris, of the law firm Wiggin & Dana in Hartford, Connecticut, delivered his suggestions at a Society for Human Resource […]

Retirement Benefits: Better at Attracting Employees than Health Care?

A recent survey conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of Nationwide found that 29% of SMBs with less than 300 employees who offer 401(k) retirement plans and plan to increase contributions say that they are doing so because the ACA has made health benefits less attractive to employees. Additionally, 43% of SMBs who plan […]