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by Brian R. Garrison By now, most everyone has heard about organized labor’s biggest priority, the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) — an unprecedented attempt by labor unions to organize non-union employers. But while the EFCA has garnered the lion’s share of media attention, a recent less publicized change may have a similar impact on […]
The debut of a new I-9 form brings the opportunity to review some of the basics on handling the document, which has been around since the 1980s. The new form now conforms with regulations issued in 1997 (yes, you’re reading that correctly) and alters the list of documents employees may use to establish their eligibility […]
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 […]
The number of fatal workplace injuries in 2010 was slightly lower than the number in 2009, according to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, which the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released on August 25. A preliminary total of 4,547 fatal work injuries was recorded in 2010, a minor decrease from 4,551 fatal injuries recorded […]
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, […]
A new ruling from the federal appeals court that covers California demonstrates how you can get hit with a retaliation claim following an employee’s request for a reasonable accommodation—even if it turns out the employee wasn’t disabled. The court also pointed out that travel restrictions don’t qualify as limitations on a major life activity for […]
By Jane Meacham The IRS on June 15 released guidance on paying employees from a defined benefit (DB) plan once the participant has entered phased retirement and whether the distributions should be taxed.
My beloved Green Bay Packers take on their biggest rival, the Chicago Bears, Sunday for the National Football Conference crown and an opportunity to play in the Super Bowl. The rivalry between the two teams is the NFL’s longest, beginning in 1921. During the span of the last 90 years, the two teams have faced […]
Oregon’s new “ban the box” law takes effect January 1, meaning employers will be prohibited from asking applicants to check a box inquiring about criminal history on employment applications. The new law makes it unlawful to exclude an applicant from an initial interview solely because of a past criminal conviction. An applicant is unlawfully excluded […]