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News Notes: New Law Prohibits Genetic Discrimination

A bill recently signed by Governor Pete Wilson will prohibit discrimination against otherwise healthy employees with genetic characteristics that predispose them to a hereditary disease. Proponents of the measure, which goes into effect January 1, 1999, say it’s needed because some employers have begun screening job applicants for genetic problems. A recent court decision found […]

Bulletin Item: Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Proposes Change In Existing Reporting Requirements For Stock Options

Under the FASB’s proposal, all forms of share-based payments to employees, including stock options, would have to be reported as expenses on corporate financial statements. Current rules require that the fair value of stock options be disclosed only in financial statement footnotes. For more information, go to the FASB website.

News Notes: Jury Awards $19 Million To Disabled Employee Fired For Absenteeism

A jury in Sacramento recently awarded a staggering $19 million—$15 million of it in punitive damages—to a McKesson Corp. employee who claimed her employer violated disability bias and family and medical leave laws. Charlene Roby allegedly was fired under the company’s no-fault absence policy after several unexcused absences because of a panic disorder. She also […]

News Flash: Court Upholds Municipality’s Limitations On Disability Retirement Benefits

A California Court of Appeal has upheld a decision to deny disability retirement benefits to a San Diego city utility worker. Before he started working for the city, Charles Alesi injured his knee several times while jet-skiing and in a beach football game. He then reinjured the knee twice at work and once more while […]

Pay for Performance Survey Results Released

The HR Daily Advisor® announced today the results of the latest compensation survey conducted in April 2011. The survey, which garnered 560 responses, took a look at what’s “happening in the trenches” with Pay for Performance: how companies are implementing their performance compensation programs, what types of compensation structures are in use, and more. According […]

News Notes: FMLA Leave Did Not Affect Employee’s Exempt Status

Doris Rowe, an exempt supervisor at Laidlaw Transit Inc., was restricted to part-time work after suffering an on-the-job injury. Laidlaw paid her by the hour while she was on the reduced schedule and resumed paying her salary when she returned to work full time. Rowe sued Laidlaw for back overtime, arguing that by paying her […]

401(k)s Under Assault — What Are Best Employers Doing?

By BLR Founder and CEO Bob Brady 401(k)s — whipsawed by the market and threatened by company budget crises. Every employer — and every employee — is concerned. So what are companies doing? Let’s find out what’s happening in the real world. For years, BLR® has surveyed HR and benefits professionals to find trends in […]

Age Discrimination: New Case Examines Whether You Can Deny Older Workers Educational Assistance Benefits; Preventive Measures To Take

Suppose an employee in their 50s or 60s wants to take advantage of your employee educational assistance program. You may be reluctant to shell out thousands of dollars to educate a worker who’s close to retirement. One employer that faced this situation recently got slapped with an age discrimination lawsuit when an older worker’s request […]

Wage and Hour: California High Court Backs Employer on Expense Reimbursement

In an important new ruling, the California Supreme Court has approved an employer’s practice of paying increased salaries and commissions to cover employees’ mileage expenses. At issue was Labor Code Section 2802, which requires employers to indemnify employees for necessary expenditures they incur as a result of the job. The employees here had argued that […]