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News Notes: Employer’s Refusal To Arbitrate Bars Raising Defense
When Tarlochan Sidhu was laid off by Fletco Co. following a workers’ comp leave, the union grieved his termination and sought arbitration as called for in the union contract. After Fletco refused to arbitrate on the grounds that the contract didn’t apply to the dispute, the union sued to enforce the CBA. Fletco asked the […]
E-Alert Item: New Law Alert: What’s Coming Your Way
Governor Davis has signed many new laws of interest to employers, ranging from creating a paid family leave program to implementing new layoff notice requirements; from new prohibitions against age discrimination to important changes to consumer report laws; from new restrictions on absence control policies to additional guidelines on responding to employee requests to view […]
News Notes: Warehouse Retailers Subject To New Safety Provisions
A new law—S.B. 486—that’s aimed at increasing worker and customer safety in wholesale or retail warehouse establishments requires that if such businesses store merchandise on shelves higher than 12 feet above the sales floor, they must secure it from falling. Security methods could include safety rails, netting, security cables, shrink-wrapping pallets or tying items together. […]
Employment Law Tip: 4 Tips for Conducting Successful Job Interviews
A job interview, like all selection devices, must be designed to measure the important knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the job. How can you best conduct an interview to find out which candidates have these qualities? Here are four guidelines: Ask candidates to indicate how and in what way they perform duties that require […]
Healthcare Reform Happened—Now What?
By BLR Founder and CEO Bob Brady Whatever you felt about it, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act—arguably the most far-reaching piece of social legislation in the last several decades—is now law. Employers around the country—including BLR—are scrambling to figure out what the upcoming changes mean. It’s a huge challenge because federal regulators haven’t […]
Short Takes: Disaster Preparedness
Are there any organizations (private or public) that can help us with our emergency preparedness other than FEMA?
Pension Plans: Two Courts Rule Cash Balance Pensions Violate ERISA; Employer to Pay $300 Million
Over the last several years, many employers have converted their traditional pension plans to cash balance plans. But according to two recent federal court decisions, these cash balance arrangements may violate the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, (ERISA), the federal law regulating employee benefits.
Class Actions: State Supreme Court Limits Enforceability of Class Action Waivers for Arbitration of Overtime Claims; Practical Impact
Short Takes: Meal Periods
Some of my nonexempt employees want to work through their meal periods so they can take off early. Is this OK?