Most Popular

Depressed, Discriminated Against, and Out on FMLA

In yesterday’s Advisor, we featured attorney Jonathan A. Segal’s take on the most common mistakes in discipline and termination. Today, more of his practical advice, and an introduction to a unique training system that will help all your supervisors and managers avoid lawsuits Segal, a partner in the Philadelphia office of law firm Duane Morris, […]

Health Plans Can Expect Cost Reductions by Bundling Payments, AHRQ Indicates

Health plans and insurers long have been thinking of ways to compensate providers not for volume of care, but for value of care, as an important tool in curbing runaway health inflation. Research over the last two decades recently compiled and reviewed by the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality shows consistent reductions in what […]

Men More Likely to Say Family Issues Disrupt Their Work

Contrary to popular belief, work-life balance and work flexibility issues aren’t primarily women’s issues. In fact, for certain benefits, it is men who use them more frequently and are more likely to say that their work is interrupted for personal or family reasons, according to results of a new survey.

Workers’ Compensation: When You Can Terminate An Injured Employee’s Health Benefits; 3 Guidelines To Follow

Several years ago, the California Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board ruled that it’s illegal to terminate an injured worker’s health benefits unless you can show a legitimate business reason for doing so. But now the board has ruled that you can cut off health benefits for an employee out on workers’ comp leave so long as […]

Obama, DHS 2010 Budgets Hint at Immigration Priorities

by Jesse Goldstein The White House and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently released their proposed budgets for fiscal year (FY) 2010. Both budgets contain discussions of immigration-related priorities, offering a glimpse of what the new administration may choose to pursue this year. Even though he is obviously facing several domestic economic challenges, […]

Health Plan Developments: Mental Health Parity, GINA, and Health Risk Assessments

By Michelle Sullivan, Holland & Hart LLP Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary, issued a statement on October 2 indicating that employers awaiting guidance before implementing changes to medical plans required by the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 should not expect […]

Kansas: No Democrats in Sight

by Carolyn Matthews, Foulston Siefkin LLP How many Democrats does it take to screw in a lightbulb in Kansas? That’s a trick question — there aren’t any Democrats in Kansas. Republican Sam Brownback was elected governor. Republicans also took the secretary of state, attorney general, and state treasurer positions from the Democratic incumbents. Republican Jerry […]

Investigating an Employee’s Formal Complaint

When an employee initiates a complaint to HR of unfair treatment or sexual harassment, the best thing to do is to move immediately to start an investigation. Choose an objective, outside investigator, attorney, or HR professional to conduct the investigation. Prepare a summary statement of the complaint that the interviewee agrees with and signs. Interview […]

flu

Time to make sure you’re ready for flu season

Ebola may be grabbing headlines, but it’s the old familiar flu that’s more likely to cause headaches and chills for employers this winter. Flu.gov reports that nearly 111 million workdays are lost as a result of flu each season. That puts the tab at approximately $7 billion per year in sick days and lost productivity.  […]