Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
On Monday, July 19, the Federal Register published interim final regulations from the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and the Treasury requiring new health plans beginning on or after September 23, 2010, to cover certain evidence-based preventive care without cost sharing. In other words, plans cannot charge patients copayments, coinsurance, or […]
The California Insurance Commissioner has ordered that the state’s average workers’ comp pure premium rate be increased 10.2% in 2002. The pure premium rate is a guideline that insurers use when pricing their workers’ comp policies, although the rate is not mandatory.
The Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor has announced that it collected $175 million in back wages in 2002. This is the largest amount collected in 10 years, and represents a 33% increase over back wages collected in 2001.
Mervyn’s California has agreed to shell out $7.3 million to resolve overtime claims brought by 1,600 store managers who charged they were improperly classified as exempt from overtime. The managers contend they spent most of their time stocking shelves and performing other nonmanagerial duties. Mervyn’s previously agreed to pay $4 million to settle similar lawsuits […]
The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal has decided to review its ruling last year upholding mandatory arbitration of bias claims. The case involves secretary Donald Lagatree, whose job offer at the law firm of Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps was revoked when he refused to sign a binding arbitration agreement. A three-judge panel sided […]
In yesterday’s Advisor, we presented several tips on hiring veterans. Today, help with cultural distinctions, plus an introduction to the “lawsuit preventer,” audit checklists. Understand Cultural Distinctions to Help Vets Feel Comfortable There are some important cultural distinctions to keep in mind when a member of the armed services transitions into the civilian workforce. First […]
In the October 2007 issue of CWHA, we reported on a California appeals court decision finding that claims adjusters for Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. didn’t qualify for the administrative exemption from overtime under California law.1 In particular, the court ruled, the adjusters duties mostly consisted of “production” work, as opposed to work at the policy […]
The Industrial Welfare Commission has posted its revised wage orders. However, the IWC is waiting for further developments on the pending increase inthe state minimum wage before printing the new wage orders and distributing them to employers.
When the Las Vegas Sands Hotel casino closed its doors, it gave workers 45 days’ advance notice, rather than the 60 days required under the federal Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification (WARN) Act. So the Sands was required to pay workers their wages for the remaining 15-day period. Now the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals […]
In the wake of the recent hurricane that has devastated parts of the Gulf Coast and left thousands homeless, many employers across the country are organizing charitable giving campaigns in their workplaces to enable employees and the employer, often in the form of matching gifts, to help the hurricane victims. Here’s online contact information for […]