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Jobless Rate Rises in Canada, Too

by Karen Sargeant The United States is not the only country being hit by increasing unemployment rates — Canada is being hit, too. Although not as high as unemployment figures in the US, Canadian figures put unemployment at 6.6%. So where is Canada being hit the most? The following statistics from the Labour Force Survey […]

Expanded Worker Classification Relief Program Available Until June 30

Is your company considering reclassifying certain workers from now on, but hesitant because it is worried about triggering a federal employment tax audit or having not consistently filed Forms 1099 for those workers in the past? If you answered “yes,” then the IRS’ Temporary Expanded Voluntary Classification Settlement Program may interest you, but you must […]

Put These Words into Your Managers’ Mouths

In critical HR discussions with employees, some of your managers will do best working from a script. When it comes to HR-related actions, do your line managers suffer from “wingtip in mouth disease?” You know the symptoms: They over-promise or ask inappropriate or even illegal questions during job interviews. Their performance appraisal meetings with employees […]

Employee Can’t Invade Privacy of Another Employee

By Ian Campbell and Justine Connelly The evolution of privacy rights in the Canadian workplace continues. In recent months we have updated you on court and labor arbitration decisions that have commented on employee privacy rights. An individual employee tried to take her rights one step further when she sued another employee for invasion of […]

Who’s Entitled To Overtime: New Case Examines Duties That Qualify For Administrative Exemption; 4-Point Compliance Checklist

Figuring out whether an administrative employee is exempt from overtime can be a challenge. But as a recent California Court of Appeal ruling highlights, the consequences for misclassifying employees can be staggering. We’ll provide guidelines you can use to help ensure that your workers are classified correctly.

Who’s to Blame for America’s Economic Disaster? Not HR?!

By BLR Founder and CEO Bob Brady What’s HR’s role with regard to executive compensation and the current economic crisis? BLR CEO and founder Bob Brady asks for your help with a brief poll. WorldatWork, the organization for compensation professionals, recently issued a statement outlining its views about executive compensation for companies getting economic assistance […]

Benefits: What Do I Need to Know About the Proposed New Disclosure and Reporting Requirements for ERISA Plan Service Providers?

I know some big ERISA regulations are expected to be issued later this year. Where can I go for more information? — Anonymous in Bakersfield   The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) plans to release its final regulations on proposed amendments to Section 408(b)(2) of ERISA, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, later this summer. […]

Money Market Reform Proposal Put on Hold; FSOC Might Revive It

SEC efforts to tighten rules on the $2.56 trillion money market fund industry are on indefinite hold. Trade organizations representing the retirement plan and asset management industries wrote a joint letter to SEC Aug. 21 criticizing money market reforms on which the commission was slated to vote Aug. 29. The letter urged SEC not to […]