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New Reform Rules Give More Guidance on Minimum Value Coverage

Determining whether group health coverage provides “minimum value” is key to avoiding penalties under health reform’s premium tax credit program, so employers will likely welcome new proposed rules that further explain MV criteria. The proposal, to be published May 3 by IRS, would complement language in final rules issued in February on how reform’s MV […]

Employees Can’t Sue for Unpaid Vacation Before It’s Earned

By now, most employers have at least heard that California prohibits “use it or lose it” vacation policies—meaning that once an employee earns vacation time, that time can’t be forfeited for any reason. But can an employer decide not to award vacation time right away to new employees? The answer is yes—according to a recent […]

Car Washes Cleaned Out for $350K in Labor Violations

The DLSE has issued 47 citations for a grand total of $356,200 to car wash businesses in Los Angeles and Orange counties. The citations stemmed from a two-day enforcement sweep in which DLSE investigators visited 72 car washes in those counties and found violations that included employing minors without proper work permits, not providing itemized […]

Employee Benefits: New EEOC Guidance Covers Benefit Differentials Based On Disability And Pregnancy, Part 2

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently issued new guidelines explaining how federal employment discrimination laws apply to employee benefits. Last month we examined the rules regarding age discrimination. This month we look at the EEOC guidelines dealing with disability and pregnancy discrimination.

Family Leave: New Law Creates Paid Family Leave Program; What You Need To Know

A newly signed piece of legislation that has drawn much attention—S.B. 1661—makes California the first state in the nation to have a paid family leave program. Fortunately, you’ll have time to get ready because employees can’t begin to collect the family leave pay benefits until July 1, 2004. To help you get started, we’ve laid […]

Inc.Com’s Business Book Bestseller List

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: […]

Proposal Would Speed Bankruptcy Retirement Asset Distributions

To expedite distribution of retirement assets from companies in Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings, the U.S. Department of Labor wants to allow bankruptcy trustees to use its Abandoned Plan Program. This program establishes a process to terminate abandoned plans so that plan participants and beneficiaries gain quicker access to their benefits; currently, however, bankruptcy trustees do […]

Teens in the Workplace: What Employers Should Know, Part 1

It’s hard to believe, but summer is almost here. And if you’re planning on hiring young workers to add to your ranks during the summer months, now’s the time to read up on the special safety rules that apply to teens in the workplace. In fact, May is Safe Jobs for Youth Month in California. […]

News Flash: New Bill Could Give Telecommuters Tax Credits

Legislation just introduced in the California Senate would create a pilot program offering tax credits linked to flexible work schedules. Employers in Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Marin, Orange, San Francisco, San Mateo, SantaClara and Sonoma counties would be eligible for a $500 income tax credit for every employee placed on an alternative work schedule. […]