Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
As of the first of the year, California’s minimum wage will be $8.00 per hour, up from the 2007 rate of $7.50. Keep in mind that this rate increase affects not only hourly, nonexempt workers but also salaried, white-collar exempt employees. As of January 1, the minimum monthly salary for these exempt employees will rise […]
The state legislature continues to consider a bill that wouldexempt professionals in the computer industry from overtime. As we went to press, theAssembly’s Appropriations Committee has a hearing set for June 28 on S.B. 88, whichalready passed the state Senate. The proposal would relieve computer-industry employersfrom having to pay overtime to hourly workers who earn […]
On Jan. 15, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia held that the IRS can issue premium tax credits (under the Affordable Care Act) to individuals whether they enrolled for coverage through a federally or state-run health insurance exchange. The complaint was brought by three employers and four individuals, including Jacqueline Halbig, who […]
We’ve been brainstorming ideas for retaining our older workers who have skills we need and that we have trouble recruiting for. Most of our ideas would require us to bend our policies. We’re considering offering our older workers these incentives:
Note to Readers: This newsletter appears daily, but we know some of you don’t always have the time to read it everyday. For your convenience, here’s a re-publication of what we covered this past week. Daily, weekly, or anything in between, we’re pleased to keep you informed with the latest tips, news, and advice on […]
The Colorado Court of Appeals has upheld an employee’s firing for off-duty marijuana use, despite medical and recreational use of the drug being allowed under state law. A quadriplegic employee who used marijuana under the state’s medical marijuana amendment filed a lawsuit after he tested positive for drugs in violation of company policy and was […]
Plan sponsors who watched their retirement investments get buffeted by recent recessionary storms have had few ERISA remedies against broker dealers who led them to poor-performing funds. The sole recourse under ERISA for plan members was to sue the plan sponsor who relied on the advice, rather than against the professional financial expert who gave […]
A new ruling from a California appeal court demonstrates why you can’t interfere with the away-from-work activities—including political activities—of your employees.
An employee comes to you with a complaint of sexual harassment—or perhaps an allegation that a co-worker is violating company policy. Or maybe a worker reports that an expensive piece of equipment is dangerous and needs to be repaired. How you respond to these scenarios can make the crucial difference between a prompt resolution of […]
Under federal Department of Transportation rules, if you employone or more commercial drivers who operate certain types of vehicles, you must comply with detailed drug and alcohol testing, training and record keeping regulations. As of January 1, 1998, the percentage of drivers you’re obligated to randomly test for alcohol use has been lowered from 25% […]