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New HIPAA Regulations Welcome Wellness Programs

Under HIPAA, it’s been very difficult to run a company wellness program – until now. If there has been one constant theme in government employment regulations, it’s the battle against discrimination. Anything that even hints at bias is absolutely prohibited, even to the point, some feel, of being counterproductive. Such has been the case with […]

Employment Law Tip: EEO-1 Deadline Nearing; Are You Ready?

If your company is required to file an annual EEO-1 Form with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), take note that the deadline is September 30, 2007. This year, employers must use the new and revamped version of the form (Standard Form 100, rev. 1/06). The EEO-1 report must be filed annually by employers with […]

House Votes to Repeal ACA Small-group Insurance Expansion

The U.S. House of Representatives in a voice vote on Sept. 28 unanimously approved H.R. 1624, the Protecting Affordable Coverage for Employees Act, which would redefine small employer as having 50 or fewer employees and give states the option of expanding the definition to include employers with up to 100 employees. The previous definition had been groups […]

Do Your Workers Know How to Respond to Workplace Violence?

Violent behavior can erupt anywhere. Consider these statistics: Homicide is the third-leading cause of work-related deaths. According to studies, as many as 1 million Americans each year are the victims of nonfatal work-related assaults. While the highest percentage of workplace assaults are in the service, healthcare, and retail industries, incidents of violence occur in all […]

Harassment Allegations Require Immediate Action

As soon as an employee comes to you and says, “I’m being harassed,” you need to address that allegation immediately. It may be that no harassment has actually taken place, but it’s your job to launch a prompt, thorough investigation to find out.

Half of Dodd-Frank Delayed; Half Continues to Confuse

There are 10 key challenges for HR under Dodd Frank and its various “Say on” requirements, says consultant Deborah Lifshey. Although about half are not currently in force, it’s still a significant hassle. The Dodd Frank Act (Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act) was signed in 2010 as a culmination of efforts […]

Workplace Diversity, Part 1: 4 Reasons You Should Implement a Diversity Program and 4 Ways to Get Started Today

In earlier articles we reported on two new U.S. Supreme Court affirmative action decisions with implications for workplace diversity programs. Cultivating and maintaining a diverse workforce is a complex and ongoing process, and it’s not always easy to know how to proceed. This two-part series will address why organizations adopt diversity programs, ways to get […]

News Notes: UC Professor Claims Race Bias In Tenure Decision

The federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has decided that UC Davis will have to face a trial on a charge by Ronald Y. Chuang, a microbiologist and AIDS researcher, that he was discriminated against because of his race and national origin. Chuang claims that the institution failed to give him a tenured position as […]

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 […]