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Independent Contractors: Court Throws Out Contractor’s Unemployment Claim; 4 Defensive Strategies

Sometimes an unemployment claim can come from out of the blue. And if the worker who files it was improperly classified as an independent contractor, it could trigger an audit—leaving you open to having to pay back payroll taxes and penalties. We’ll look at a new ruling that involved a moonlighting worker who filed for […]

Managing The Workplace: Court Clarifies When You’re Protected From Being Personally Sued For Termination Decisions

If an employee is “at-will,” it usually means you can discharge the person at any time for any lawful, non-discriminatory reason. But what if a manager is motivated by improper, though not illegal, personal concerns when recommending an employee be fired? In a new decision, the California Court of Appeal has ruled that as long […]

SHRM 2011: Don’t Just Sit on Your Employee Handbook

How’s this for an illustration of how quickly developments can pop up that may require you to revise your employee handbook? Speaking at the Society for Human Resource Management’s annual conference today, Christine V. Walters discussed a new ruling only five days old, in which a federal appeals court held that an overly broad confidentiality policy […]

EEOC Finally Defines ‘Race’ and ‘Color’ in Connection With Discrimination Suits

Ever since 1964, discrimination based on race or color has been illegal. EEOC has finally told us what those terms mean, says HR Manager’s Legal Reporter. The recent Supreme Court ruling that greatly expanded the definition of retaliation (Daily Advisor, 9/25/06), showed how important it is for HR people to keep track of happenings in […]

Medical Clinic Cited for FMLA Violations, Ordered to Pay Back Wages

The U.S. Department of Labor has cited Houston Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic, LLP, for multiple violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act, and has ordered the clinic to pay $17,390 in back wages and other expenses. A DOL investigation found that when an eligible HENTC employee returned from FMLA leave, the company placed […]

Office of Special Counsel Aims at Fed Agencies with USERRA Project

A new project adds another layer of bureaucratic oversight about which federal employers should be aware when dealing with employees exercising their rights to job protection under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). The U.S. Office of Special Counsel has begun a three-year demonstration project expanding its role in enforcing military servicemember […]

Case Management—What’s Really Happening?

What’s happening with case management in the real world? How do you handle routine requests from your employees? What about not-so-routine requests, like complaints? What are your competitors up to? Help us find out! Please participate in our brief survey, and see how what you are doing stacks up against what other successful companies are […]

GOP ‘still has options’ after pulling ACA repeal bill

On March 24, Republican lawmakers pulled their proposal to undo parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) when it became clear they didn’t have the necessary votes to pass the bill in the House. The American Health Care Act would have, among other things, effectively voided the ACA’s employer mandate, which requires large employers to […]

The 5 Biggest Teamwork Ills and Prescriptions for Remedy

By Dr. Mario Moussa, Dr. Derek Newberry, and Madeline Boyer authors of ‘Committed Teams: Three Steps to Inspiring Passion and Performance’ Twisting your features into a mask of pain, you dig your heels into the soft grass. A rope tears into your palms. A clear, tiny voice speaks to you amid the many confused thoughts […]