Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Since the workers’ compensation reforms of 2003, most California employers have seen a steady and welcome decline in their workers’ comp insurance premiums. But rates may be headed in the other direction starting in 2009.
A number of bills that would significantly impact employers are pending in Washington.
by Christine D. Mehfoud Whether the president’s recent series of immigration-related executive actions will survive potential legal challenges and congressional action remains to be seen. For now, set aside your political views (while I love a good political debate, this space is for practical business implications), and let’s focus on how the executive actions will […]
In response to rising gasoline prices, the Internal Revenue Service has taken the step of boosting the optional standard mileage rate by eight cents, to 48.5 cents per mile, for the final four months of 2005 (effective from Sept. 1, 2005 through Dec. 31, 2005). This is the rate most businesses use to reimburse employees […]
We’re reviewing our interviewing practices. Are there any good questions you recommend we ask applicants?
It’s hard to believe, but many schools will be back in session in just a few weeks, which means that parents may be called upon to make an appearance at their children’s schools. Now’s a good time for employers to review the rules regarding when parents can take work leave to participate in their kids’ […]
As a result of an upcoming merger, we are going to have a lot of situations in which there is a disparity in salaries. We have a plan for addressing that over a period of three years, but in the meantime, I would like to institute a policy that prohibits employees from discussing their salaries […]
Seattle’s new law requiring paid sick and safe time leave is set to take effect September 1, and the Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR) has published final rules defining some of the responsibilities of employers that have employees working in Seattle. Read Seattle’s new sick and safe time rules The law means that employees […]
November 11, 2010 Employers are not required to pay employees for time spent during bona fide meal periods. Bona fide meal periods are ordinarily breaks that last at least 30 minutes, but they may be shorter under special conditions. They do not include coffee or snack breaks; these are rest periods that may have to […]
Question and answer session with Hal Adler Q: Why is succession planning so important in a tough economy? Hal: Look at it this way. We’ve seen dramatic rebounds in the stock market. This thing could turn around as fast as it got here, but regardless of how long it takes, employers don’t want to be […]