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Spotlight on Millennials: Managing and motivating the iPod workforce

Raised by Boomer parents on a diet of praise and self-esteem, Millennials are the next big thing, and they know it. They show up to work with lots of answers. Hierarchy? Only if it helps us get the work done. Need it yesterday? No problem. Technology? We eat that #@%! for breakfast. Which brings us […]

Employer’s Right to Reduce Pension Benefits

By Lyne Duhaime In most Canadian jurisdictions, employers are limited in retroactively reducing pension benefits. The Quebec Superior Court recently considered employers’ rights in this regard in Synertech Moulded Products, Division of Old Castle Buildings v. Tribunal Administratif du Québec et al. The court ordered the Quebec Regulator to register pension amendments proposed by the […]

Hot List: New York Times Bestselling Paperback Business Books

The following is a list of the bestselling paperback business books as ranked by the New York Times on October 12. 1. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (P.S.) by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. A maverick scholar and a journalist apply economic theory to everything from cheating sumo […]

Healthcare Reform: 10 Changes for Employers

As everyone knows by now, President Obama has just signed legislation that makes major changes to the healthcare system in the United States. Some of the changes will affect employers in significant ways — 10 of which are discussed below: 1. Employer Responsibilities. Beginning in 2014, the legislation will require an employer with more than […]

Disability Discrimination: Court Says Look For Alternative Jobs, Even If Workers Don’t Ask; How To Avoid Accommodation Traps

Your obligation to accommodate disabled workers may be much broader than you think. According to a new California Court of Appeal ruling, if one of your employees becomes disabled and can’t perform their job, you must suggest possible reasonable accommodations-even if the employee doesn’t ask for your assistance. What’s more, you might be required to […]

No Requirement to Hold Position Open Indefinitely for Disabled Worker

According to a new California appeals court decision, holding a job open for a disabled employee who needs time to recuperate is a form of reasonable accommodation—where it appears likely the employee will be able to return to work at some time in the foreseeable future. But reasonable accommodation doesn’t require an employer to wait […]

Survey Says: You’re Probably in Violation

Yesterday’s Advisor reported survey results that show rampant wage and hour violations among low-wage earners. Today we’ll look at more findings of this important survey, and take a look at how you can do your own survey—before the feds do it for you. Researchers for the Broken Laws, Unprotected Workers survey interviewed 4,387 workers in […]

Religious Discrimination: Ruling Examines Whether Seniority System Must Give Way To Accommodation Requests When Religious Attire And Dress Codes Clash

If an employee tells you that a religious belief prohibits them from working on certain times or days, you usually must try to accommodate the person unless it would be an undue hardship. But what if your workers’ schedules are set by a seniority system? Do you still have to make a special accommodation for […]

More Pension Sponsors Considering Lump-sum Payouts

As defined benefit plan sponsors look harder for ways to cut expenses and lower exposure to market forces that challenge keeping their pension obligations funded, an obvious cost to evaluate is their commitment to lifetime retirement benefits for participants. Nearly 40 percent of U.S. employers with DB plans told Aon Hewitt in its recent 2013 […]