Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed several new lawsuits arising out of post-9/11 backlash in the workplace. In one case, the agency has sued Alamo Rental Car on behalf of a Muslim employee who was denied a workplace accommodation to wear a headscarf during the holy month of Ramadan in December 2001. Another […]
Special from BLR’s Advanced Employment Issues Symposium Unions are desperate, says attorney Kevin McCormick, because their numbers are down and many of the things they once promised workers (like safer workplaces) are now mandated by government agencies. The result? They’re getting aggressive in new ways. As an example of new union tactics, McCormick points to […]
As winter weary eyes eagerly watched to see if the groundhog would see his shadow, a large swath of the United States was paralyzed by record snow and ice forcing business closures, stranding traveling employees, knocking out power, and damaging buildings. This week, we’ve collected several articles we thought might help you deal with the […]
Thinking of hiring teens to work this summer? If so, now’s the time to get a handle on the rules regarding what hours they can work, so you don’t run afoul of state and federal laws.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has published final rules regarding compliance with the nondiscrimination provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for wellness programs. The rules will be effective on the first day of the plan year beginning on or after July 1, 2007. For calendar year […]
The California Supreme Court has handed down a new decision making it easier for disabled workers in California to sue their employers for job discrimination. The court ruled that under the state Fair Employment and Housing Act, an individual claiming workplace disability discrimination need only show that their disorder limits a major life activity. In […]
The 2013 minimum hourly wage is set to go up in 10 states. Arizona. The rate goes from $7.65 to $7.80. The state’s minimum wage is adjusted annually based on a cost-of-living formula. Colorado. The rate is going from $7.64 an hour to $7.78 based on an annual cost-of-living adjustment. Florida. The rate goes from […]
A federal judge recently granted final approval of a settlement resolving a class action race bias lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against Walgreens Co., the nation’s largest drugstore chain. Under the settlement, Walgreens will pay over $24 million to approximately 10,000 African-American workers who charged they were discriminated against in […]
We spend much of our adult lives going to work, and when you don’t like your coworkers, it makes staying at a company extremely difficult. Having workplace friendships is not only great for employee morale, but it’s great for employee retention. And if you can retain your workforce, it saves on having to recruit and […]
A longtime customer just asked us to clarify the rule on dependents up to age 26 under the new healthcare law. I thought our response might be helpful to others, too: