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As the 2014 plan year nears, plan sponsors are still sifting through the recently finalized changes to HIPAA’s nondiscrimination rules on wellness programs. The rules, issued June 3 (78 Fed. Reg. 33158), legally took effect Aug. 2 and must be met for plan years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2014. Along with raising the […]
You know that you have to post various notices that explain to your employees their rights under various laws. But merely posting isn’t enough. First of all, required notices must be posted prominently and conspicuously where they can be readily seen by both employees and applicants for employment. Second, you need to be sure that […]
Wellness programs seem like a simple, appealing way to reduce skyrocketing healthcare costs. But be aware that some programs can run afoul of federal and state laws.
Even if you can’t see the results of a worker’s disability, you need to respect them, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Here are the rules to follow. Every time we look at the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it seems there are additional disabilities being covered. That’s not really happening, of course. The […]
Employees with chemical sensitivity may be entitled to workplace accommodations, including permission to work from home, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio ruled in Core v. Champaign County (July 30, 2012). Pamela Core, an employee at the Champaign County Department of Job and Family Services, had asthma and a severe chemical […]
by Tammy Binford It’s a rare HR professional who hasn’t struggled with the question, “How can I make certain I’m getting the most useful information during job interviews?” Asking insightful questions goes a long way toward addressing the problem, but figuring out just what to ask can be tricky. Will a particular question elicit a […]
By Jonathan C. Sterling As we have reported in the past, transsexual employees may be protected from discrimination, at least in some cases, by federal and state law. The decisions granting that protection have treated such discrimination as a violation of gender or sex discrimination law. However, courts have been reluctant to recognize that transsexual […]
by Elizabeth J. Boca The minimum wage in California will increase from $9 to $10 an hour as of January 1. Employers must understand that paying the higher minimum wage alone doesn’t satisfy their obligations because the upcoming increase will spark a domino effect in various compliance areas. Exempt “white-collar” employees. Each time the state […]
Two California jurists were recently charged with sexual harassment by court employees. The first case involved Placer County Superior Court Judge W. Jackson Willoughby, who allegedly harassed his court clerk and bailiff by groping them and making sexist remarks. The county has shelled out almost $110,000 to settle the suits. And the state is now […]
Motivated by a shortage of talent, and fueled in part by record low unemployment and a spike in business confidence, companies are bolstering efforts to improve the workplace experience.