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Market Pricing and Salary Surveys, Part III

Which is better—job evaluation or market pricing? Though many see them as competing processes, a blend of the two offers more benefit because it balances the strengths and weaknesses of each. Click here to read more.  

Health And Safety: Court Looks At When Unintended Safety Lapses May Lead To Penalties For Willful Violation Of Cal/OSHA Rules

John Blackstock, an apprentice electrician with Rick’s Electric Inc., a San Diego electrical contractor, was seriously hurt when he received a 227-volt shock while working on electrical cables. Foreman Glen Woodmansee believed the cables weren’t energized, but didn’t check before assigning Blackstock to the project. Plus, Blackstock hadn’t been trained to work on live equipment. […]

Wal-Mart Class Action Update: Great News for Employers

In a very positive development for employers, the U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed the massive class action lawsuit against Wal-Mart. The lawsuit claimed that the organization systematically paid women less and did not provide equal opportunity for advancement.

Court Multiplies Award, Saying Insurer Profited from Denial

Rather than merely finding that an individual was entitled to benefits due, a federal appeals court ordered an insurer to pay a large monetary award under ERISA based on the equitable theories of unjust enrichment and disgorgement of ill-gotten profits. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held that the insurer used money it should […]

Payroll Errors Cost Time, Money, Morale

Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been handling payroll for years, Joe Sharpe urges you to heed this warning: Be careful. It isn’t that Sharpe, who prefers the title “Payroll Czar” at his firm Sharp Payroll, Inc., doesn’t trust your abilities, your education, or your dedication to the job. Rather, it’s just that people […]

Dress Codes: Worker Reinstated After Being Fired For Wearing Tongue Stud

An apartment leasing agent for Los Angeles-based real estate management company Oakwood Worldwide filed a discrimination suit after being fired for allegedly refusing to remove a tongue stud. Mary Haudenshield claimed the stud was not visible and did not violate the company’s dress code. Oakwood has now agreed to reinstate Haudenshield and pay her back […]

Top CEOs Show Some Reason for Optimism

On June 23, the Business Roundtable released its Second Quarter 2009 CEO Economic Outlook Survey and there is reason for some optimism. While it’s not all blue skies and sunshine, it does appear that the storm clouds may be clearing. Good news is rare these days so I thought the survey was worthy of some […]

Family And Medical Leave: Court Says Employers Must Notify Workers How “12-Month Period” For Leave Entitlement Will Be Calculated; 3 Practical Steps

Employees who qualify for federal family leave may take up to 12 workweeks of leave within a 12-month period. An employer may choose one of four methods to measure the 12-month timespan, such as a calendar year or a rolling 12-month period. Now, a new ruling from the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals demonstrates […]