Most Popular

California Employers Need to Adjust Plans to Accommodate Same-sex Spouses

Employers in California need to adjust their benefit plans, plan documents, and corporate and human resources policies to accommodate employees’ same-sex spouses. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on June 28 lifted its stay on an injunction against enforcing Proposition 8, which had amended the California state constitution to define marriage as occurring between […]

Improving Employee Benefits: New IRS Guidelines May Increase Popularity Of Tax-Free Transportation Plans

If you’re looking for a free or low-cost way to boost your employee benefit package, a transportation spending account may be the way to go. These programs involve some administrative burdens, but they can result in income tax savings for employees and FICA tax savings for both you and your workers. Until now, many employers […]

EEOC on the March–Charges, Investigations, and Claims

Yesterday’s Advisor offered take-aways from Littler Mendelson’s recently released Annual Report on EEOC Developments—Fiscal Year 2012; today, data on charges and investigations, plus an introduction to HR Dept One. Review of Charge Activity, Backlog, and Benefits Provided On November 19, 2012, the EEOC announced the publication of the FY 2012 Performance and Accountability Report.  During […]

EEOC Claims Continue to Rise

According to its annual report issued November 16, 2009, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) received 93,277 private-sector discrimination charges in fiscal year (FY) 2009, its second highest total in the past 20 years. In addition, the EEOC obtained record relief of almost $300 million for alleged discrimination victims through administrative enforcement. Breakdown of Charges […]

News Notes: Employer Never ‘Paid’ Employee Whose Paycheck Was Illegally Intercepted

  Felix C. Villafuerte complained to the Labor Commissioner that Pasadena-based Inter-Con Security Systems Inc. never paid him his final wages when he quit. Inter-Con claimed it had mailed a final paycheck to Villafuerte but that an unknown person had illegally intercepted and cashed it by forging Villafuerte’s signature. A California Court of Appeal now […]

News Notes: DOT Now Enforcing Rule On HAZMAT Placards

The Department of Transportation has begun enforcing a rule that prohibits motor carriers from placing extraneous information on placards or in placard holders reserved for hazardous materials information. The measure, which took effect Oct. 1, 2001, bans signs, advertisements and slogans such as “Drive Safely” that reduce the ability of emergency responders to immediately recognize […]

E-Alert Item: DOL Finds Sun Microsystems Violated H-1B Posting Requirements

The federal Department of Labor has found that Sun Microsystems in Santa Clara failed to comply with a rule requiring posting notices regarding hiring workers under the H-1B visa program. The DOL has now ordered Sun to display the notices, but hasn’t assessed any penalties or fines because it found that the posting violations weren’t […]

Short Takes: Pregnancy Leave

Does pregnancy leave have to be paid? Our HR Management & Compliance Report: How To Comply with California and Federal Leave Laws, covers everything you need to know to stay in compliance with both state and federal law in one of the trickiest areas of compliance for even the most experienced HR professional. Learn the […]

News Notes: HIPAA Security Rules Finalized

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has released final security standards under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) for protecting individually identifiable health information. The standards require health insurers and certain healthcare providers and clearinghouses to establish procedures to protect the confidentiality of electronically maintained or transmitted health information. […]

Keeping the boom going: Baby boomers continue strong hold on workforce

Today’s workers are likely to celebrate their 65th birthdays with a cake and a short gathering of coworkers in the break room – not with a big retirement party complete with the awarding of a gold watch. Retirement has taken on a new look, and employers must be ready for that trend to continue. The […]