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Exempt Employees: Docking Errors May Cost Employer $7 Million; When You Can—And Can’t—Correct Docking Mistakes

The rules on when you can legally dock exempt employees’ pay are complex, and it’s easy to make mistakes. For example, if you dock when you shouldn’t, the person could be considered an hourly worker entitled to back overtime. However, under a special federal provision known as the “window of correction” rule, you may be […]

Hot List: Bestselling “Business Life” books on Amazon.com

Amazon.com updates its list of the bestselling books every hour. Here is a snapshot of what is hot right now, this Monday morning, December 14, in the “Business Life” section of the “Business and Investing” category. 1. StrengthsFinder 2.0: A New and Upgraded Edition of the Online Test from Gallup’s Now, Discover Your Strengths by […]

Job Descriptions Gone Wrong!

Improper job descriptions can confuse your organization, stifle creativity, and land you in a lawsuit. Here’s what to watch out for. Job descriptions are among the most prosaic tools in the HR toolbox. They’re a basic of every HR program, the blueprint of who does what, when and where, and how it all fits together […]

What I Learned from My Own Mistakes

In the movies the leading man often was portrayed as the strong, silent type. A man of few words, but those words carried a lot of weight. Think Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry muttering, “Go ahead.  Make my day.” But as I was reminded recently, in business being a man of few words isn’t such […]

E-Alert Item: Wage And Hour: Einstein Bagels To Make Big Payout For Back Overtime; Employees Misclassified As Exempt

Einstein Bagels, a national chain of bagel stores–which includes Noah’s New York Bagels and Manhattan Bagels–has agreed to pay over $495,000 in back overtime to settle claims that it misclassified 424 assistant managers in 27 states, including California. The settlement grew out of an investigation of Einstein locations by the U.S. Department of Labor. In […]

News Flash: New Affirmative Action Rules Coming

The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs is expected to propose rules that will change how federal contractors write affirmative action programs. Currently, employers with more than 50 employees andmore than $50,000 in annual federal contracts must maintain affirmative action plans. The proposed changes will reduce contractor paperwork and streamline the […]

Public Employees: New Case Makes It Easier for Public Workers to File Lawsuits for Bias-Related Claims

Last year, the California Supreme Court made it easier for public employees to sue over job bias by ruling that they can bypass their employers’ internal grievance process and file a discrimination complaint directly with the state Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH). Now a California appeal court has clarified an issue left open […]