Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
The number of wage and hour lawsuits continued to increase and hit a new high in 2012, according to data released on July 20 by law firm Seyfarth Shaw in Chicago. More than 7,000 Fair Labor Standards Act cases were filed in federal court during the 12 months ending March 31, a slight increase over […]
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.
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 […]
by Tammy Binford The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) new proposed rule updating sex discrimination guidelines for federal contractors takes aim at what the director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) calls “regulatory anachronism.” The proposed rule appears in the January 30 Federal Register. The public will have until April 14 to […]
Annual minimum wage increases kick in on Jan. 1, 2014, giving employers in many states just a few short weeks to get payroll practices in order before new minimum wage requirements take effect. As of press time, minimum wages in 14 states are slated to increase in 2014. Most are effective Jan. 1, but at […]
It’s not uncommon for employers to lay off workers and then outsource their job responsibilities to save money on employee benefits and other expenses. But now, a new U.S. Supreme Court ruling has exposed some serious hidden risks in this and similar practices.
A 52-year-old white public school superintendent in the Los Angeles County area who claimed he was illegally fired by a newly elected Latino majority school board will be paid $1 million in a confidential settlement to resolve his lawsuit. The superintendent alleged that the new school board president ordered him to terminate a number of […]
by Sarah McAdams Nearly three-quarters of employees are stressed about money — and 45% say their financial worries make it harder for them to do their jobs, according to a Workplace Options survey. Current predictions about the economy surely won’t improve matters. “The key source of people’s money stress is far deeper than where to […]
The federal stimulus package contains a COBRA premium subsidy for employees who are “involuntarily terminated” between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has recently published guidance for employers on what an “involuntary termination” is for the purpose of determining which employees should be sent the required COBRA subsidy notices. […]
The Office of the President of the United States of America is the most visible leadership position in the world. Period. So whether he likes it or not, President Obama receives more than his fair share of unsolicited advice on leadership. Of course, all of this advice for the President is free, and much of […]