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Will Stress Cause the American Workplace to ‘Snap’? Can Flexibility Save Us?

BLR CEO and Founder Bob Brady returns from a work-life conference with work/life balance flexibility as an antidote to stress, and a reminder to not forget the person who must make that flexibility work. Are things “about to snap” in the American workplace? Are we reaching a “tipping point” at which stress-related trauma is going […]

Overcome Common Misconceptions When Adopting an AI Tool at Work

We’ve found that there are three common misconceptions people face when onboarding an artificial intelligence (AI) -powered tool. I’ve detailed those misconceptions below—along with how we help customers overcome them.

News Notes: Insurance Commissioner Seizes Workers’ Comp Insurer

The state Insurance Commissioner has taken over control of Golden Eagle Insurance Co., California’s third largest workers’ compensation carrier. The action grew out of concerns about Golden Eagle’s financial solvency. The Insurance Commissioner is optimistic that several insurers will join together to operate Golden Eagle’s business through a new company, San Diego Casualty Insurance Co. […]

News Notes: New Fed/OSHA Ergonomics Rules May Be On Hold

The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have blocked funding for new national ergonomics rules intended to reduce repetitive motion injuries in the workplace. The rules, which would affect an estimated 27 million employees whose jobs involve repetitive tasks or manual labor, would impose heavier burdens on employers than existing California standards. The vote prevents […]

Fighting Warm-Weather Dress Code Violations

It’s been a hot summer here in California—and in many workplaces, the rise in temperature has ushered in a rise in inappropriately dressed or scantily clad employees, which can lead to flirtatious behavior and even to a general decline in productivity and office professionalism. What can you do to keep dress code standards up when […]

News Notes: Pension Reform May Be Coming; IRA Payroll Deductions Urged

Several bills pending in Congress could impact your pension plans. HR 1102 would increase the amount workers can contribute to 401(k) accounts and require faster vesting of matching employer contributions. It would also introduce new Roth 401(k)s and 403(b)s, allowing employees to contribute after-tax dollars but receive tax-free retirement benefits. Another measure, S 659, would […]

Comments Sought on Proposed Changes to Form I-9

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is inviting public comment on proposed revisions to Form I-9, the form all U.S. employers are required to keep on employees to document that they are eligible to work in the United States. Comments will be accepted until May 29. Key revisions to the form include: Expanded Form […]

FLSA’s Emergency Exemption May Apply to Some Boston Employees

Emergency situations — such as the April 15 explosions during the Boston Marathon — can result in employees performing multiple job duties. For example, a store manager may have spent time cleaning up glass and debris in and around the store. This type of work does not normally qualify as the manager’s duty; however, the […]