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Plan Sponsors Might Have to Report Lump-sum Pay Offers

Pension plan sponsors that offer to “cash out or annuitize benefits” for former employees would have to report this to the U.S. Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., the agency has proposed. In a routine information-collection change request to the Office of Management and Budget posted Sept. 23 (79 Fed. Reg. 56831), PBGC said it intends to […]

Taming Tyrants: An ‘Essential Function’ for Managers?

Today we continue our look at taming TOTs—Terrible Office Tyrants—and we’ll take a look at an invaluable source for prewritten job descriptions. (Should all HR job descriptions list taming TOTs as an "essential function"?) Dealing with tyrant bosses is "a little like parenting minus the diapers and spitting up," says Lynn Taylor, whose tips were […]

DOL interpretation tackles FMLA rule on caring for adult children

A new U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Administrator’s Interpretation has been issued to clarify who qualifies as an adult “son or daughter” whom an employee may take unpaid leave from work to care for and rely on the job protections of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). An adult son or daughter must meet […]

Senate Finance Committee Maps Routes to Health Care Reform

Health care industry leaders — including some who opposed the Clinton administration’s 1993 health care reform efforts — are now pledging to rein in the rate at which costs increase. President Barack Obama did a one-hour interview and town-hall style discussion about health care reform on prime time network TV this week. Lawmakers promise quick […]

Health Savings Accounts Continue to Grow in Popularity

By David Slaughter, JD, Senior Legal Editor Data collected from Devenir Group, by surveying top health savings account (HSA) providers, reflects both a consistent trend toward account growth and a “savings mindset” taking root among healthcare consumers. The new study shows the popularity of HSAs and their continued to grow, with the number of accounts […]

No gender confusion means no discrimination

It has been said that the more things change, the more they stay the same. That certainly applies to the following case involving the employment application of a biological female who identifies as a male. While the scenario might be somewhat unusual, the legal issue is one that has been around for decades: Can you […]

Employer Violated NLRA by Firing Workers for Facebook Postings

Clothing retailer Bettie Page must reinstate three terminated employees with back pay and rescind an unlawful handbook rule, said the National Labor Relations Board in affirming a lower court’s finding that the employer violated several provisions of the National Labor Relations Act. The NLRB agreed that the employer violated the NLRA’s prohibition of unfair labor […]

Firing an Employee: Why You Should Never Act Alone

In yesterday’s CED, Hunter Lott of Please Sue Me fame offered his lawsuit avoidance tips. Today, his advice on legal exposure in 2011, plus an introduction to an upcoming event you won’t want to miss. First, specialized input. As we mentioned in yesterday’s CED, specialized members of the management team, like the HR manager, are in a […]

Workers’ Compensation: Employee Gets Six Years to File Comp Claim Because Employer Didn’t Provide Notice of Rights

Thomas Davenport worked for Michael Faeth Cleaners (MFC) under its contract with Camp Pendleton to dry-clean military clothing. He lived in a hotel on the base and MFC paid for his room and board. One day, while Davenport was cooking in his hotel room, a grease fire started and Davenport was burned on his arms, […]