Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Most employers are familiar with the basic concept of equal pay for equal work. But it’s critical to understand the details of the rules because you can be liable for hefty damages and penalties if you make a mistake. In Part 1 of our series on preventing equal pay problems, we’ll explain what your obligations […]
by David S. Fortney President Barack Obama will be sworn in for his second term Monday. The 113th Congress met for the first time on January 3 with its slightly revised composition. With those players in place, the main question for employers and HR professionals is, how will the 2012 election results affect the federal […]
There is a historical tendency in the final months of an administration to increase regulatory activity in an attempt to solidify its legacy. As the Bush administration comes to a close, it appears the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has its primary attention. Keep up with the latest […]
The quest to escape the upward premium spiral has hurt some small employers. Some have been hurt by fly-by-night Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements (MEWAs) that ended up being unable to pay claims, says the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). In its quest to stop such MEWAs, DOL is proposing new enforcement and oversight rules. DOL […]
by Sophie E. Zdatny Equal pay for equal work may seem like a no-brainer, but the gender pay gap is still with us almost 50 years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act (EPA) in 1963. Nationally, women earn 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. The Vermont Attorney General’s Office (AG) and […]
Special from the Advanced Employment Issues Symposium, Las Vegas In yesterday’s Advisor, BLR CEO Dan Oswald offered tips for getting a seat at HIS table. Today, more on how to interact with the C-Suite, plus an introduction to the all-HR-in-one site, HR.BLR.com Show Me the Money Oswald, author of the Oswald Letter, suggests that HR […]
Service Requirement – One Week Vacation: What is the service requirement in order for an employee to be eligible for 1 week of vacation? Do not offer Less than 6 months 6 months More than 6 months, but less than a year 1 year More than 1 year Exempt Employees 158 (20.1%) 216 (27.5%) […]
Illinois’ same-sex marriage law, which was passed last fall, is set to take effect June 1. The new law will affect Illinois employers in various ways. Employers will need to treat same-sex spouses the same way they treat opposite-sex spouses. This will have ramifications for employer-sponsored health plans with spousal coverage and retirement plans. Also, […]
In an important new development, the U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that when fiduciary misconduct diminishes the value of an individual account in a defined contribution plan, such as a 401(k), the harmed employee can sue for damages. In the past, courts have taken the contrary position that the federal employee benefits law only […]