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News Notes: Court Upholds San Francisco’s Retirement Benefits Calculation

A California appeals court has ruled the San Francisco Retirement Board correctly excluded amounts paid for unused vacation and sick leave whencalculating “average final compensation” to determine retirement benefits. Under the retirement plans, average final compensation only included compensation earned during the period an employee provided credited service. Under San Francisco’s system, vacation and sick […]

Biggest HR Concerns for 2011 How You Voted BLR

We recently polled our readers about the biggest HR concerns for 2011, and here’s how you responded: healthcare challenges topped the list with about 80 percent of respondents voting, followed by increasing federal investigations at 45 percent. (Respondents were asked to vote for their top 3 choices.) The survey was done in late December 2010. […]

Pig Farm Worker Loses Job and Retaliation Claim

A Midwestern farm company that fired a manager on the day he was due to return from FMLA leave has withstood the ex-employee’s allegations of FMLA retaliation and interference in a 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling affirming a district court decision. The case is Winterhalter v. Dykhuis Farms, Inc., No. 11-1743 (July 23, […]

Employment Law Tip: What to Do When Employees Complain

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 […]

High Court Enforces Time Limits on Pay Bias Claims

Some good news for employers: The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday ruled 5-4 that employees who complain of pay discrimination must file a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) within 180 days of the discriminatory pay decision, rather than within 180 days of the employee’s last paycheck. According to the high court, the “EEOC […]

Managing Down to Those Who Manage Up

In yesterday’s Advisor we talked about “managing up.” Today, tips about managing down, and an introduction to a new audio conference, Handling Difficult Conversations. Here’s a typical scenario between a subordinate and a boss: Bill comes up to Sally, the boss, who is running to a meeting, and says, “We have problem with x.” Sally […]

Health Coverage Premium Subsidies: One Step Closer to Extension?

At least in the Senate, a consensus is being reached on trade adjustment assistance that could lead to an extension of premium subsidies under the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) program. Here are two snippets from a joint statement issued Wednesday: [Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.)]: “My staff and Senator McConnell’s staff have been […]