Most Popular

Sexual Harassment: California’s High Court Affirms Automatic Liability for Harassment by Supervisors, But Employers Can Take Steps to Limit Victim’s Damages

By Jennifer Carsen Jan 1, 2004 HR Management & Compliance

Updated: May 18, 2015

In a new ruling, the California Supreme Court has affirmed employers are automatically liable for sexual harassment committed by supervisors, but damages for an employee who doesn’t take reasonable steps to avoid or report supervisor harassment can be reduced. We’ll examine the new case and suggest smart employment practices that can help you limit damages—and […]

U.S. Employers Preparing for Avian Flu, Survey Shows

By jessica Apr 5, 2006 HR Management & Compliance

Updated: May 18, 2015

According to a recent survey by consulting firm Watson Wyatt Worldwide, 15 percent of multinational companies operating in the United States already have a plan in place in the event of an avian flu outbreak. The survey of 90 multinational companies also found that 48 percent of companies operating in the United States are considering […]

Vermont Drops Immediate Demand for Liberty Mutual Data

By David Slaughter, JD, Senior Content Specialist, Legal Aug 26, 2011 Benefits and Compensation

Updated: Aug 26, 2011

A quick update on the case involving the state of Vermont’s demand for claims data from Liberty Mutual’s group health plan — the state agreed to drop its immediate demand for this information, pending the ultimate outcome of the lawsuit. The state’s health and insurance agency had issued a subpoena for this data, and Liberty […]

News Notes: Court Tosses Out Class-Action Suit Against State Fund

By Jennifer Carsen Sep 1, 2003 HR Management & Compliance

Updated: May 18, 2015

Following a 113-day trial, a San Francisco judge threw out a $1.1 billion class-action lawsuit charging State Compensation Insurance Fund, the state’s largest workers’ comp insurer, with unfair claims reserving and business practices. The suit alleged that from 1989 to 1995, State Fund maintained an illegal claims reserving standard, overcharging its policyholders. The judge’s written […]

Senate Approves Pension Security Bill

By jessica Nov 29, 2005 Uncategorized

Updated: Nov 29, 2005

It’s no secret that the private pension system in the United States is in crisis. Last week, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), which insures pensions for about 44 million Americans, announced that it has a startling deficit of $23 billion, fueled largely by having to take over pension plan liabilities of bankrupt airlines. But […]

“No-Match” Rule Officially Dropped

By jessica Oct 14, 2009 HR Management & Compliance

Updated: May 18, 2015

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has officially dropped the controversial “no-match” rule, which required employers to fire workers if there was a discrepancy between a worker’s Social Security Number (SSN) and official government records. The rule also imposed penalties on employers who didn’t fire employees if the discrepancy wasn’t quickly explained.

Christmas Eve: Are You Answering Your Blackberry?

By Stephen Bruce, PhD, PHR Dec 23, 2009 HR Management & Compliance

Updated: Dec 23, 2009

The new world of social networking and electronic communications opens all sorts of questions about etiquette, behavior, and life style. In "Available All the Time: Etiquette for the Social Networking Age," Wharton  Professor Nancy Rothbard calls it a "double-edged sword." For example, she says, a Blackberry® can allow parents to attend their children’s soccer games […]

Asset Rallies May Not Stem Soaring Pension Liabilities, Report Says

By Jane Meacham, Contributing Editor May 3, 2013 Benefits and Compensation

Updated: May 3, 2013

If it seemed to you that investment and funding decisions for your defined benefit plan in 2012 were at odds with each other, you weren’t alone. In its annual report on DB plans, global employee benefits consultant Towers Watson says that in 2012, once again there were many investment contradictions for U.S. DB plan sponsors: […]