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Proposed GINA rule clears up issue on wellness programs
A new proposed rule from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) settles the question of whether employers are justified in seeking medical information on covered spouses participating in wellness programs. The proposed rule, published in the October 30 Federal Register, would amend regulations implementing Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). The proposed […]
HRAs With Individual Policies Will Violate Reform Ban on Limits, HHS States
Health reimbursement arrangements that are not integrated with group health coverage will violate health reform’s prohibition on annual benefit limits, the federal government recently clarified. HRAs that are integrated with individual policies will be seen as “nonintegrated,” thereby violating the ban on annual limits, the agencies implementing health reform stated. And if employees don’t sign […]
Senate Votes Down Health Care Reform Repeal Legislation
On Wednesday, February 2, the U.S. Senate voted 51-47 against a largely symbolic amendment that would repeal the health care reform legislation enacted last year. (The amendment was to an unrelated Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding bill.) Senate Republicans unanimously backed the amendment, which would have repealed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), […]
Oregon Court Says No to Medical Marijuana in the Workplace
by Calvin Keith, Perkins Coie For over 10 years, Oregon employers have been waiting for an answer to the question of whether they must accommodate a disabled worker’s use of medical marijuana. The Oregon Supreme Court’s April 14 decision in Emerald Steel Fabricators, Inc. v. Bureau of Labor and Industries answers that question with a […]
Employer Stuck with $830k Bill After Delay Results in S-L Claim Denial
The outcome in this case should remind employers that even with stop-loss (S-L) in place, a self-insured health plan is risky business. Trouble for the Claire’s Stores health plan started in the form of a premature birth, which generated about $1 million in charges. Under the terms of its S-L contract, the plan had to […]
Could “Unemployed” Be the Next Protected Characteristic?
In a market in which the number of people looking for jobs wildly exceeds the number of jobs available, some employers have opted to narrow the field of applicants by eliminating unemployed workers from consideration. While some employers restrict the field to individuals who are currently employed, others allow candidates who are “recently unemployed” to […]
#RecruitCon2018 Social Media Recap
RecruitCon 2018 has come to an end, but that doesn’t mean the fun stops! This article takes a look back at the top Tweets from RecruitCon 2018. Major recurring themes from this year’s event include: video job descriptions, candidate experience, social media recruiting, and much more!
Employee Travel: Protecting Employees Far from Home; A 10-Point Checklist
When business demands send employees around the world, employers face a range of unique safety concerns—political unrest, illnesses such as SARS, and even unfamiliar local customs. And as an employer, you’re expected to extend your umbrella of care as far as your employees go. Although it’s impossible to plan for all possible contingencies, here’s a […]
Wal-Mart Faces Class of 1.5 Million; Your Suit Won’t Be That Big
Wal-Mart is poised to defend against a wage-related suit that could have as many as 1.5 million class members. Your suit won’t be as big, but do you think it’s a good reminder to review your exempt/nonexempt classifications? Here, from BLR’s experts, are explanations of many of the trickiest classification questions: Executive Secretary An executive […]