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Does ADA Block Swine Flu Inquiries?

Everyone’s wondering what to do about swine flu, although some surveys show that companies haven’t done much yet. When you do act, you could run smack into the ADA if you’re not careful. Among other things, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulates when and how employers may require a medical examination or request disability-related […]

Do Your Application Forms Include Recommended Statements and Authorizations?

In yesterday’s Advisor, we shared some of attorney Stephen R. Woods’ rules for avoiding hiring lawsuits. Today we bring you more tips, and an introduction to a new audio conference about the mundane—but critical—challenge of HR recordkeeping. Woods, a shareholder at the Greenville, South Carolina office of law firm Ogletree Deakins, delivered his remarks at […]

Tool of the Week: White-Collar Exemptions Report

Are you classifying your white-collar workers correctly? Are you sure? Getting it wrong can trigger costly penalties and fines. In our exclusive Special Report, “White-Collar Overtime Exemptions Are Revised–and Could Mean Higher OT Costs for You,” we explain what you need to know in light of the recent revisions to the FLSA. We also provide […]

Hot List: New York Times Bestselling Hardcover Business Books

The following is a list of the bestselling hardcover business books as ranked by the New York Times on February 8. 1. Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell. hy some people succeed — it has to do with luck and opportunities as well as talent — from the author of Blink: The Power […]

USI Advisors to Pay $1.3 Million to 13 DB Plans Over Mutual Fund Fee Disclosure

A Connecticut-based fiduciary investment adviser agreed in a settlement to pay about $1.3 million to 13 pension plans to resolve alleged ERISA violations related to mutual fund fees the firm received. USI Advisors Inc. made investments in mutual funds on behalf of ERISA-covered defined benefit plan clients and received 12b-1 fees from those funds, according […]

Groups say HIPAA transaction rules would unduly tax self-funded plans

Government requirements for certifying compliance with HIPAA’s transaction standards would impose a significant, unwarranted burden on self-funded group health plans that do not perform these transactions directly, employer groups warned in written comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The proposed rules would lay “significant costs” on self-insured plans that hire vendors […]

4 Steps to Investigate Wrongdoing—The Right Way

Be careful how you investigate employee wrongdoing, warn labor experts, or you could be setting the company up for a lawsuit for defamation or invasion of privacy. Follow these 4 steps to avoid potential litigation: 1.) Have a written policy that specifically states the type of unacceptable employee behavior in the workplace and that your […]

Judge clears way for antiretaliation portion of new OSHA rule

The antiretaliation provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) new electronic record-keeping rule are set to be implemented on December 1 after a Texas federal judge denied a request for a preliminary injunction on November 28. The eventual fate of the rule isn’t known since Judge Sam Lindsay of the U.S. District Court […]

Best Place to Work Builds in Fun, Face-to-Face Time (Video)

Liz Wilson McKee maintains that having fun is a key element of engaging employees. She is the internal communications manager for national law firm Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkwitz, one of Fortune Magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For in America.” McKee says HR managers should look for opportunities to celebrate. Events can be […]