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Laugh Your Way to Wellness? Expert Says ‘Yes, You Can’

Wellness is a serious topic, says corporate humorist David Granirer, but a little humor might be just what the doctor ordered. We’ve all been trained that “work isn’t supposed to be fun” and that “no pain, no gain” should be our motto. However, says corporate humorist David Granirer, blogging on about.com, we’re starting to realize […]

Be Careful Taking Cost-Saving Measures in Union Workplace

By Karen Sargeant In the last several months, we have posted several blog entries detailing how employers can reduce employment costs and/or increase workforce flexibility in these tough economic times. We have talked about furloughs, work-sharing programs, changing employment contracts, adjusting the size of the workforce and reducing employees’ hours of work. But all of […]

IRS Has Some Answers for Small Business Considering SHOP Subsidies

These questions and answers on the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit are adapted from the IRS web site for companies considering getting federal subsidies to help pay premiums for their workers to get health insurance.  The subsidies are authorized by health reform law. Q: Which companies qualify for a federal health care tax credit? A: […]

Americans With Disabilities Act: New Ruling Examines Standards For Refusing To Employ Workers Who May Be At Risk For Injury

An employee has a history of fainting spells, and you’re worried that during one of these episodes the person may injure herself or another worker. What are your options? Although the Americans with Disabilities Act allows you to fire or refuse to hire an employee who poses a “direct threat” to herself or others, a […]

E-Alert Item: Unemployment: President Signs Bill Extending Benefits

President Bush has just signed legislation to extend unemployment insurance benefits for laid-off workers. The measure will extend benefits by 13 weeks for the estimated 1.6 million workers whose normal state UI benefits are due to expire in May 2003. Plus, it will restore benefits to the approximately 750,000 workers whose unemployment benefits lapsed just […]

9 Vital HR Reads: What You May Have Missed

We’ve posted some important articles this year covering everything from the latest ADAAA regs, to how fire an employee without getting sued. Here is a list of the top 9 articles you can’t afford to miss: Employees Don’t Leave Jobs—They Leave Managers Employees don’t leave jobs, they leave managers. It’s an old saw, but it’s […]

FedEx Settles Independent Contractor Suit for $26.8 Million

FedEx Corp. has agreed to shell out a whopping $26.8 million to end a long-running dispute over whether California delivery drivers in the company’s ground unit are independent contractors or employees. Last year, a California appellate court ruled in the case that about 200 ground drivers were misclassified as independent contractors. The drivers had sued […]

New Case: Corporate Officers May Be Forced to Pay Out-of-Pocket Under FLSA

In 2005, the California Supreme Court ruled that, under state law, individual managers and corporate officers couldn’t be held personally liable for unpaid wage claims. In other words, only the company could be forced to pay back wages. This was an important victory for California employers (Find out more on the 2005 case). But the […]