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Bulletin Item: Health Care Privacy Rules Announced

New federal regulations addressing medical privacy rights under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) have been published in the Federal Register. Group health plans generally have until April 14, 2003, to comply with the new rules.

News Notes: Temps May Join Unions Where They Work

The National Labor Relations Board has said that temporary and contract workers who are jointly employed by a temp agency and the employer they work for may be included in union bargaining units together with regular employees in the client employer’s workplace. Temps don’t have to receive the same pay and benefits as regular employees, […]

Wildfires Tax Local Fire Departments, Raise Wage and Hour Challenges

Higher than normal temperatures and dry conditions have fueled significant numbers of fires this wildfire season, particularly in the Western United States. Wage and hour issues may be far from the first concern for state and local agencies and communities preparing for, or dealing with, wildfires, but it behooves savvy municipalities to think about possible […]

News Flash: Store Managers Win Multimillion-Dollar Overtime Settlement

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 […]

News Notes: Undocumented Workers Encouraged To File Complaints

Under a new policy, the U.S. Department of Labor and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, which oversees government contractors, will no longer inspect I-9 forms when visiting a worksite to follow up on worker complaints about labor violations. The policy shift is an attempt to encourage undocumented employees to file such complaints without […]

Give Yourself Time

A bystander watched as a young commuter put on a last minute spurt but still missed the train. “If you’d run just a bit faster, you’d have caught it,” the observer sympathized. “No,” the young man gasped. “It wasn’t a case of running faster, but starting sooner!” People who don’t allow themselves extra time to […]

News Notes: Employers Continue To Be Targeted

Discrimination lawsuits doubled between 1992 and 1996, according to a new report from the U.S. Courts’ Administrative Office. And the problem is likely to get worse. In May, we reported that employers paid record amounts to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) over the last few years. Now top EEOC lawyers have promised to step […]

Employment Law Tip: Workplace Giving for Hurricane Victims

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 […]