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Amazon Editors’ Best Business Books of 2010
The editors at Amazon have picked their favorite business and investing books for 2010. Here are the top 10. 1. The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis. The sequel to #1 best-selling Liar’s Poker examines the issue of who understood the risk inherent in the assumption of ever-rising real estate prices, a […]
Apply Now for HIPAA-standard Health Plan Identifier
Health plans now may begin applying for the standard health plan identifier required by HIPAA, CMS has announced. The online application was posted March 29 on CMS’ Health Plan and Other Entity Enumeration System (HPOES). Most HIPAA-covered health plans, including employer group health plans, must obtain an HPID by Nov. 5, 2014, except that “small health […]
In California, Not All Arbitration Agreements Are Created Equal
By Marianne C. Koepf Over the past several years, many California employers have implemented dispute resolution programs and imposed arbitration agreements as a condition of employment—after all, it’s less expensive than litigation! But as the California Court of Appeal recently explained, while arbitration agreements are generally valid, an employer must understand its limits.
2 Tricky Challenges: FMLA Bonding and Fetal Protection
Pregnant employees typically present a host of Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) issues, and then, for many employers, there’s the very tricky balancing act of fetal protection—what to do when the mother wants to work in a job that might endanger the unborn child. FMLA Protection for Pregnant Employees Under FMLA, incapacity because of […]
ENDA may be coming soon—what will its impact really be?
by John R. Merinar, Jr. A great deal of attention has been focused on the U.S. Senate’s recent passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would prohibit discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The House of Representatives has yet to take up the bill, but there’s much speculation that […]
Agencies Add Safe Harbors to 90-day Rule for Health Plan Enrollment
Generally, waiting periods to enroll in health coverage cannot exceed 90 days, and eligibility conditions based solely on the lapse of a time period are permissible for no more than 90 days, under new final rules issued by the U.S. Departments of Labor Health and Human Services and the Treasury. In addition, the employer has […]
Employment Law Tip: Holiday Time Off for Exempt Employees?
During the holiday season, many employers shut down their operations for a few days over Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s. If you’re thinking of closing up shop for the holidays this year, first make sure you’re up on special pay rules for employees who qualify as exempt from overtime. If an exempt employee performs any […]
ERISA Rules Do Not Forbid Dropping Fund Transfer Option, Another Court Finds
Eliminating a participant option to switch to a defined benefit plan from a defined contribution offering does not violate ERISA anti-cutback provisions, even if participants’ accrued — but unclaimed — benefits are reduced. The recent ruling in Andersen v. DHL Retirement Pension Plan (Case No. 2:12-cv-00439-MJP WL 5389141, U.S. Dist., Western District of Washington Nov. […]
Who: The A Method for Hiring
Resources for Humans managing editor Celeste Blackburn reviews Geoff Smart and Randy Street’s book Who: The A Method for Hiring. According to a study by Recruiting Roundtable, a division of the Corporate Executive Board, employers or their new hires regret their decisions half the time. The bad hiring decisions cost the average organization millions in lower […]