Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
By Martin J. Regimbal, JD The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals—which covers Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi–recently addressed the interplay between the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) and mandatory wellness programs. The court considered an employee’s discrimination and retaliation claims and reached a commonsense conclusion regarding the lawfulness of mandatory wellness programs.
The U.S. Department of Labor on Aug. 14 issued a new set of guidance for plan sponsors about tracking missing defined contribution retirement plan participants and distributing their assets. It takes into account vastly improved Internet search capabilities that have emerged in the decade since its last instructions about obligations to missing participants. Field Assistance […]
by Dan Oswald You know good customer service when you see it. That’s a statement in which I firmly believe. But it also means you know horrendous customer service when you see it. Do I have a story for you! Recently, my wife and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. My gift to her was […]
I do not typically write in first person. But this article is all about trying and Trying, so for purposes of this article, I am trying something new. And I am trying to convince you to watch Trying, a delightful British TV show that just wrapped up its fifth season (and I’m hoping for a […]
by Richard L. Rainey North Carolina’s law overhauling the state’s unemployment system will take effect July 1, bringing about a small tax increase for many employers and a reduced maximum weekly benefit amount for claimants. It also will change the circumstances in which a claimant is disqualified from benefits. During the economic recession, the state […]
When employees call in sick and say they’ll be out for a few days with a cold, you may not give it much thought. But you probably need to pay more attention-especially if absenteeism is a problem in your organization-because a recent U.S. Department of Labor opinion suggests that workers’ time off could qualify as […]
No one wants to get burned by hiring a bad apple, so it’s common for employers to conduct background checks to lessen the chance of bringing a dishonest employee into the workplace. But as hazardous as it is to have shady employees, it also can be dangerous to step out of line when checking people […]
Use these approaches to get the best return on training investments: View training as an ongoing process. Reassess training needs regularly to make sure that current needs—not outdated ones—are being addressed. Seek employees’ input. In addition to asking supervisors and managers to identify skills gaps, talk to individual employees about their training needs and encourage […]
On January 30, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order directing federal agencies to cut two regulations for every new one issued during the current fiscal year (FY). The move is aimed at alleviating regulatory burdens on both small and large businesses, Trump said while signing the order. The order says that unless prohibited by […]
Segal is a partner at Duane Morris LLP. He recently listed the mistakes employers most commonly make in investigating discrimination or harassment complaints in a BLR publication, the HR Manager’s Legal Reporter (BLR is CER’s parent company).