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News Notes: Benefits Plan Singling Out Workers On Medical Leave Violates ERISA

When Professional Risk Management acquired Applied Risk Management, the companies’ agreement provided for all active Applied employees to automatically be transferred to Professional without a break in health benefits coverage. But workers on medical, disability or other extended leave weren’t transferred until they returned to active duty, and they consequently lost health coverage until they […]

Bulletin Item: Workers’ Comp Rate Increases Pending

In addition to a 7.2 percent increase to premiums approved by Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi, it appears the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Board will seek a 22.5 percent increase to rates. Watch future issues of CEA for additional workers’ compensation information.

Accommodating Disabilities: When You Don’t Have To Accommodate A Worker Whose Medical Condition Poses A Safety Threat

Norman Hutton, a diabetic who worked for Portland, Ore. based chlorine manufacturer Elf Atochem North America Inc., sued for disability discrimination after he was terminated following a series of on-the-job hypoglycemic episodes. Elf claimed it didn’t have to keep Hutton in his job because his condition created a direct safety threat to the workplace—and now […]

News Notes: County Can Be Liable for Harassment Even After Being Dismissed from Lawsuit

The County of Fresno was dismissed from a sexual harassment lawsuit after it contended that the alleged harasser’s conduct fell outside the scope of his employment. The victim and harasser subsequently entered into a stipulated judgment for $16,000—and then the victim turned around and sued the county for the $16,000 after the harasser assigned the […]

Wellness Discounts of $60-$120 Per Month Drive High ROI

In yesterday’s Advisor, we got wellness program tips from experts Lynda F. Jeppesen and Travis Dent. Today, how one of their programs works, what results it achieves, and an introduction to the book some call the “Wellness Bible.” Jeppesen and Dent made their comments at the SHRM Annual Conference and Exhibition held recently in Las […]

News Notes: New Tools For Locating Wage And Salary Data

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics has developed a new tool that allows you to easily search existing wage and salary surveys for specific occupations in different geographic areas. The program is available free on CD-ROM, and the government hopes to put it on the Internet sometime within the next year. To receive a copy, […]

Pay Budgets for 2013–What’s the Plan?

By Stephen D. Bruce, PHR Editor, HR Daily Advisor Compensation planning? There’s nothing more basic than the pay budget, and everyone needs good survey data to support their decision-making. Of course, we can’t generate great data unless you participate in our brief pay budget survey.< Take the 2012-2013 pay budget survey now. For years, BLR […]