Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Tremendous cost-cutting and patient care improvements await insurers and plans that can leverage the recent gains of computing to improve patient self-management of care. The challenge is how to tap the big pools of data, and get “actionable” personalized results out to plan members so they can choose better, cheaper care and manage this care […]
In the most familiar type of workplace bias lawsuit, the employee charges that the employer had a discriminatory motive. Butin disparate impact cases, the employee claims that an apparently neutral policy or practice of the employer disproportionately hurt employees in a protected class, even though there was no intent to discriminate. A new California appeal […]
A subscriber recently wrote in with the following question: “What are the legal requirements that we must adhere to for allowing California employees access to their personnel files?” Here’s our response.
by Judith E. Kramer and Daria H. Hafner President Barack Obama has submitted to Congress his budget request for fiscal year (FY) 2016, which begins on October 1, 2015. Here are the highlights of the administration’s requests for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and the National Labor Relations […]
“Social media networks and blogs are now the fourth most popular online activity, ahead of personal e-mail,” says Attorney Cynthia L. Gibson. And they are getting more popular with HR for background checks. Unfortunately, she says, once you turn up information you don’t want, “you can’t unring the bell.” Gibson is senior vice president, Legal, […]
In his book The Optimistic Workplace: Creating an Environment that Energizes Everyone, management and leadership consultant Shawn Murphy tackles the challenge and argues that our best work is the product of a positive environment. “How it feels to work within an organization is a critical workforce development issue. We need more leaders who are willing […]
A recent case from the federal trial court in Gulfport, Mississippi, dealt with a certified nursing assistant (CNA) who claimed she was discriminated against based on religion. She alleged that she was subjected to a hostile work environment and fired for reporting religious harassment. The court discussed some interesting points in its decision. Facts Shira […]
Information reporting of minimum essential coverage under the Affordable Care Act is like being stuck between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, insurers and many employer plan sponsors must keep records about their coverage and lives covered for every month of 2015. Details include Social Security numbers (for self-insured plans) and […]
No one plans on becoming disabled. But accidents and illnesses happen, and they can confine workers to bed for weeks … or longer. A serious disability takes away more than workers’ earnings—it can take away their sense of control over their own lives. Do your employees understand the importance of ensuring that they receive a […]
Credit reports can be a useful tool for screening job applicants, but using them recently became more complex. That’s because of several important changes to the federal Consumer Credit Reporting Reform Act that are effective September 30, 1997. If you violate these provisions or a similar state law, you can be sued for steep penalties, […]