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House Vote Could Soon Determine Fate of Transit Parity

Employers that offer qualified transportation benefits should be aware that they may soon need to adjust their plans. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are setting the stage for the possible passage of a two-year federal highway funding law that could include a transit parity provision — which would return the mass transit exclusion to parity with […]

Democrats Try, Try Again to Expand FLSA Protections for Home Care Workers, Minors

“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again,” goes the old saying. Heeding that advice, legislators recently introduced two new bills that would expand employee protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act, recycling similar bills that failed in past sessions of Congress. One bill, introduced in both houses of Congress, would extend FLSA coverage […]

Share Your Opinion with 155,000 of Your Closest Colleagues

Have you had a “eureka” moment lately? How about a penetrating insight into the HR profession? Or maybe just strong feelings about an issue of the day that you just can’t keep to yourself? Well, here’s your chance to share. Regular readers of this column know that it’s often written by BLR’s founder and CEO […]

Texas Court Green-Lights New Claim Against Poaching CEO

On June 9, our federal court of appeals gave the go-ahead to a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) lawsuit made personally against a CEO accused of masterminding the theft of competitors’ trade secrets. In an increasingly competitive business environment, new tools are welcome in fighting unfair practices.   What is RICO?  Back in 1970, […]

Wellness—Doing the Fed’s Dance for Compliance

Wellness becomes a tricky dance once you want to base incentives on an actual health outcome—like reduced blood pressure or cholesterol. Fortunately, DOL offers a checklist to help you determine whether your program is in compliance. HIPAA’s nondiscrimination provisions generally prohibit a group health plan or group health insurance issuer from denying an individual eligibility […]

Stay one Step Ahead of DOL’s Misclassification Efforts

What do short stories by O. Henry and independent contractor analysis have in common? You’re left guessing the outcome until the very end, says attorney Deanna Brinkerhoff. DOL is cracking down on classification, and that makes it a good time to evaluate your organization’s classification decisions. DOL estimates that 30 percent of employers misclassify some […]

Reminder about OSHA Posting Requirement

It’s time to post your Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Form 300A, the summary of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred last year. Unless you have 10 or fewer employees or fall within one of the industries normally excused from the Occupational Safety and Health Act’s (OSH Act) recordkeeping and posting requirements, you’re required […]