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It’s that time of year again when Sacramento lawmakers are debating a wide variety of measures that could impact your workplace. Aug. 31 is the last day for legislators to pass bills, and Gov. Schwarzenegger must sign or veto them by Sept. 30. Here’s a look at some key proposals now on deck in the […]
Handling employee requests for time off due to illness or injury can be one of the most difficult–and frustrating–parts of an employer’s job. That’s because a complicated array of state andfederal laws governing family leave, workers’ compensation, and disability discrimination may come into play–each involving different rules, definitions, and obligations. And complying with one law won’t […]
Tackling the issue of workforce productivity can be intimidating, especially when one considers its critical importance to succeeding in today’s marketplace. Improving workforce productivity is near the top of every organization’s "To-Do List", but a surprisingly low percentage of companies feel confident that they are performing well in their workforce optimization efforts.
Inc.com, the website for Inc. magazine, publishes a monthly Business Book Bestseller List. Here is the list for January 2011. 1. How: Why How We Do Anything Means Everything…in Business (and in Life) by Dov Seidman. A guide for companies and their leaders to achieve sustainable profit without compromising core values. 2. Rich Dad’s Prophecy: […]
Yesterday’s Advisor covered reasons why HR managers should avoid Internet background checks using Google, Facebook, MySpace, and other websites. But that’s not the end of the story. In our last issue, an HR expert cautioned managers to avoid Internet background checks of potential hires. Legally, she’s right. Realistically, HR people are doing them anyway. The […]
New Department of Labor regulations on health benefit claims and appeals procedures reduce the time allowed for processing claims and reviewing claim denials. The rules apply to claims filed on or after Jan. 1, 2002, under all ERISA-governed health plans including employer-provided health programs such as dental and vision coverage, disability plans and HMOs.
The Department of Labor recently issued final changes to the white-collar overtime exemption rules under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The new regulations take effect Aug. 23, 2004.
Getting the notice requirements right is one of the trickiest aspects of CFRA compliance. CER’s free White Paper, Notice Requirements for CFRA and FMLA: California Labor Laws, explains what you need to know, courtesy of Marjorie Fochtman, Esq., and Deborah Schwartz, Esq., attorneys at the San Francisco office of Nixon Peabody, LLP. The White Paper […]
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced that Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. will pay over $33 million in back wages to resolve errors in calculating overtime for 86,680 employees nationwide. According to the DOL, Wal-Mart brought the problem to the agency’s attention after an internal audit raised concerns regarding overtime computations, particularly with respect to incentives […]
By Lorraine Yeomans Recent actions by President Barack Obama’s administration and a flurry of new local laws are reviving discussion on the issue of gender identity (sometimes also referred to as gender expression) discrimination. Since 1993, when Minnesota adopted the first state law protecting against discrimination based on gender identity, employers have been doing their […]