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Marijuana Disclaimer Must Be Crystal Clear, Court Rules

California law prohibits employers from asking job applicants about most marijuana-related convictions that are more than two years old. A new California appeals court decision, Starbucks v. Superior Court (Lords), highlights the fact that employers must be extremely clear with applicants that they are not seeking this barred info.

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 […]

Employees Not Helped by Slow Health Premium Growth

Employers have been shifting more premium costs to workers and increasing their deductibles. That, in addition to the fact that price growth in the health sector outpaces growth for the rest of the economy,  has resulted in a disproportionate increase in employee out-of-pocket costs, a new Commonwealth Fund report says. Growth in health plan costs […]

Bill Would Increase Dependent Care Credit, Make Limits Permanent

If this bill becomes law, there will be higher dollar limits for eligible services for which employees can claim the dependent care tax credit. Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y., introduced the Middle Class Dependent Care Fairness Act of 2012 (H.R. 5886) on June 1. Israel’s bill calls for: increasing the credit to $35,000 per year; increasing […]

November Corporate Pension Plan Funding Levels Up, but Lag End-2011 Values

Pension liabilities of the 100 largest U.S. corporate defined benefit pension plans decreased by $28 billion in November, while assets increased by $5 billion, bringing the Milliman 100 Pension Funding Index funded status deficit to $466 billion and the funded ratio of 74 percent. The November ratio still lags the year-end 2011 value of 78.7 percent, […]

After Pondering King, SCOTUS Stalls on Reform Subsidies

The U.S. Supreme Court has not yet acted on a request to hear a case that seeks to eliminate health insurance premium subsidies in the states that refused to set up their own health insurance exchanges. The High Court discussed whether to hear King v. Burwell on Oct. 31; however, its Nov. 3 orders from […]

Best Audio Books of 2007

For many of you, it’s the first day back to work after the holidays, which means you’re swamped with voice-mails, e-mails, meetings and performance appraisals. As (reading) time is short these days, enjoy the following Hot List, which ticks off the top business audio books for 2007. This list is courtesy of the “Audies.” Think […]

Bias In the Friendly Skies

Many employers have had more than their fair share of discrimination allegations. Continental Airlines was accused of race, color, national origin, religious, and disability discrimination in one lawsuit. Let’s take a look at how it did more than its fair share of trying to work with the employee before eventually terminating him. Losing Control Meet […]