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Appeals Court Rejects Key Provisions of Oklahoma Immigration Law

By Charles S. Plumb Yesterday’s ruling by a federal court of appeals stops enforcement of key portions of Oklahoma’s sometimes controversial immigration law known as House Bill 1804. First, a brief history. House Bill 1804 went into effect on November 1, 2007, and its business-related immigration provisions were immediately challenged in court. On June 4, […]

Are all religious holidays created equal?

One might think that the paid holidays an employer chooses to offer its employees is a matter for the employer and its employees. However, when Tyson Foods announced that Labor Day would be replaced with Eid al-Fitr as a paid holiday in its Shelbyville, Tennessee, plant, the response from the public was swift and harsh. […]

DOL Agrees: With Intermittent Leave, Enough Is Enough

No one likes dealing with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), but every HR manager is doing it. Barbara Dahlen’s approach has satisfied DOL and other agencies while at the same time significantly reducing FMLA time off. Take the case of "Bristol," says Dahlen, one of her employees who tried to wear her out. […]

Court Supports Sponsor Interpretation of Plan, but Equitable Relief Claims Still Possible

Plan sponsors may take heart at a district court’s ruling supporting the interpretation of plan language by one of their own — but a partial dissent could spell more claims for equitable relief. The 6th U.S.  Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a ruling for the plaintiff in a surviving-spousal benefits suit and supported the defined […]

5 Hiring-Related Pitfalls to Avoid

Your managers may think they’re doing a good job of interviewing and hiring, says New York attorney Barbara Meister Cummins, but most of them are “traveling without a map.” Here are 5 of Cummins’s “Top Failures”:

DOL issues final rule on FMLA expansions

On February 4, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule implementing two expansions of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The rule was issued to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Act. One of the expansions provides families of eligible veterans with the same FMLA-protected leave available […]

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6 More Tips for Improving Offer Acceptance Rates

In part one, we talked about how frustrating it is to get all the way through the recruiting process and finally find a good candidate, only to have the job offer be rejected. We outlined seven options for improving offer acceptance rates, and today we’re continuing with that list.

Customer Care and Shareholder Value

I saw an article the other day with the headline “Shareholders vs. Customers: Who Comes First?” That got me thinking. What was the answer to this question posed by the author of the article?  My conclusion: You don’t have to choose. If you want to create long-term shareholder value in any business, you must meet […]

The Sabbatical: Take a Year Off … With Pay!

Companies are increasingly recognizing the need for long-term workers to take a sabbatical, both to re-energize and to recommit to their jobs. Feeling a little burned out today? We have a suggestion. Ask your boss for a year off …. with pay. It’s not as far-fetched as it sounds. A few years back, a story […]

Hiring new and young staff this summer? Think safety first!

By Deanah Shelly A few summers ago, Ontario employers were surprised by a monthlong young worker safety inspection blitz. During the blitz, Ontario Ministry of Labour inspectors visited 2,024 workplaces across Ontario and issued 5,862 orders. Of those, 105 were stop-work orders, forcing workplaces to stop production until they complied with the listed requirements. On […]