Most Popular

How HR can help employees overwhelmed by holiday stress

by Michael G. McCourt We now are fully involved in the crush of festivities and holiday shopping that traditionally mark the beginning of the sprint to New Year’s Eve. This is the season of peace on earth and good will toward our fellow man, right? Not always. A Challenging Season The holidays have the uncanny […]

Supreme Court in McCutchen: Clear Plan Terms Prevail Over Broad Equitable Remedies

Clear plan document terms in ERISA group health plans are the best defense against legal claims asserting broad equitable remedies, the U.S. Supreme Court reinforced in an April 16 decision. In its holding, the Court affirmed that equitable theories, such as make-whole, common fund, unjust enrichment and double-recovery doctrines should not be allowed to override […]

Morale’s Role in Accommodation Decisions

Yesterday, we looked at the first half of attorney James Brown’s “Top 10” tips for complying with California’s disability bias laws. Today, the rest of the list—plus an introduction to a valuable new resource that will quickly become your indispensable guide to California’s complicated workers’ comp laws.

Business Strategy: Is Yours the Right One?

I’ve been thinking and reading a lot about strategic planning lately. I guess when all hell is breaking loose, as it has been for many businesses of late, it becomes real easy to question the strategic direction of the company. When sales are falling or profits are eroding, when new ventures are struggling to gain […]

Retaliation Claims: Court OKs Lawsuit By Fired Employee Who Complained About Health And Safety Problems; How To Avoid This Fast-Growing Employer Risk

Most employers understand, in principle, that it’s illegal to retaliate against a worker who in good faith complains about an unsafe or illegal condition at work. In practice, however, retaliation cases are rarely black and white. Frequently, problems arise when an already difficult employee begins griping about something you feel is irrelevant or unimportant-and the […]

Thank Those Who Helped You Dream Big; Then Pay It Forward

Have you ever had someone encourage you to dream big or had someone say you could be anything you wanted to be? Maybe you were lucky enough to have a parent or grandparent who convinced you that there are no limits. Or maybe a teacher or coach inspired you to consider opportunities that otherwise might […]

States challenge EEOC guidance on criminal background checks

by Joshua Wood The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency responsible for enforcing federal employment discrimination laws, periodically issues enforcement guidance to aid employers in complying with the laws it enforces. The guidance is usually published on the agency’s website at www.eeoc.gov and can be an indication of how the EEOC will interpret or […]