Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
The government’s costs to implement health care reform is expected to rise by $12 billion as a result of the recently announced delay in the employer mandate and information reporting requirements, according to a July 30 letter by the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation. In addition, the letter to the House […]
by Cathleen S. Yonahara A new California law taking effect January 1, 2014, grants overtime pay for at least the next three years to domestic workers who are personal attendants. Under old state law, “personal attendants” are exempt from statutory overtime and meal and rest break provisions, but they are not exempt from minimum wage […]
By Troy D. Thompson of Axley Brynelson, LLP Earlier this year, the Wisconsin Supreme Court decided that time spent by employees putting on and taking off company-required clothing to comply with federal regulations is compensable time for which they must be paid. The court’s decision is largely consistent with a line of other recent decisions […]
Gov. Davis has signed a law barring employers from taking out corporate-owned life insurance policies on employees, with some exceptions. The law does not affect the validity of employer-purchased life insurance that is provided as an employee benefit.
Job restoration for employees returning from family leave can be tricky. Today, we look at a couple of common scenarios. FMLA Restoration Example 1 John is a bank teller. He works at a bank branch 20 miles from his home. The branch is in a suburban neighborhood that allows John to do shopping or to […]
Training is often perceived as a soft science. But to train better and to get more funding for training, consider doing it “by the numbers.” These days, business is increasingly ruled by numbers. But there are some things that can’t be quantified, right? Like how the human mind can be affected by training. Not so, […]
I’m so uncomfortable when I have to fire someone.Do you have any suggestions of phrases or techniques I can use to “soften the blow”? Here’s what you had to say: “Softening the blow” can seem like a thoughtful and considerate act, but it’s actually quite dangerous from a legal standpoint, as we found […]
A brief from the U.S. Solicitor General recommending that the U.S. Supreme Court hear a “stock-drop” class-action case could make it the most important ERISA litigation of the High Court’s current term. Employee benefits attorneys watching the case’s progress say a High Court decision could deter employers from offering employer stock as a 401(k) plan […]
By Jeffrey Phillips and Alex Verjovsky You’ve heard the saying “fighting the last war”. It refers to preparing to compete using familiar techniques, against competitors you’ve faced before, in the same markets or industries, only to discover that the rules have changed. Modern business competition is changing rapidly, and to compete effectively, you need to […]