Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
In the largest corporate bankruptcy in the nation’s history, thousands of Enron employees lost their retirement savings after the company stock invested in their 401(k) plans became worthless. Now, in the wake of Enron’s collapse, Congress is considering a raft of legislation to reform 401(k) plan rules.
Keep in mind that some individuals may be eligible for COBRA premium subsidies beyond Aug. 31, 2011, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) noted today in updated material on its website. The updated frequently-asked-question on the end of the subsidy period follows: Q1: I’ve heard that the COBRA Premium Reduction (Subsidy) ends on August 31, 2011, […]
As healthcare costs continue to rise, financial pressure does, too. Your employees are feeling it, especially if you’ve had to shift an increasing share of healthcare costs to them. Higher copays and coinsurance may help control premiums, but they do nothing to rein in employee out-of-pocket costs. To the contrary, in fact.
The IRS recently issued Notice 2010-69, which defers the Form W-2 reporting requirement found in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) by clarifying that such reporting won’t be mandatory for W-2s issued for 2011. The provision in the PPACA that addresses this W-2 reporting was designed to be effective for taxable years beginning […]
Research shows that workers come on the job already motivated, and common business practices rob them of it. The researchers offer some tools to reverse this process. “Most companies have it all wrong. They don’t have to motivate their employees. They have to stop de-motivating them.” With this one attention-getting statement, three researchers recently demolished […]
Bullies may be causing more harm in your workplace than sexual harassers, according to a new study, “Outcomes of Aggression and Harassment.” Although both bullying and harassment have negative consequences, the study concluded that employees who experienced various types of workplace aggression—bullying, incivility, or interpersonal conflict—were more likely to quit their jobs, be less satisfied […]
In what is being hailed as one of the largest public entity individual employment settlements ever in California, the City of Emeryville (near Oakland) has agreed to pay $2.3 million, plus $1.3 million in attorney’s fees, to a city employee who claimed racial discrimination and retaliation.
In a long-awaited ruling that could put the brakes on some wage and hour class actions in California, an appeals court has provided welcome guidance and relief to employers on their responsibility to provide meal breaks and pay for “off-the-clock” work.
If an employee reports being sexually harassed by a co-worker, you could be on the hook for steep damages if you don’t effectively investigate and remedy the problem. You may be tempted to take drastic disciplinary measures against the harasser to ensure that you’ve met your legal obligations. But according to a new Ninth Circuit […]
Over the last few years, the U.S. Supreme Court has issued several rulings narrowing the definition of what constitutes a disability under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Now, the California Supreme Court has ruled that California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) affords workers broader protections than the ADA.