Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
April Chapman sued Sonoma County, claiming she was sexually harassed by her supervisor, Brian Enos. A trial court found that the county wasn’t automatically liable for Enos’s conduct because he didn’t qualify as a supervisor under California’s sexual harassment law. Now a California appeal court has reversed that ruling. To be considered a supervisor, an […]
The nation’s high court has heard arguments in a case that questions whether railroad employees with the lung disease asbestosis can sue their employer for damages based on a fear of developing cancer from exposure to asbestos—even if the employees don’t have cancer or any symptoms of it. The lawsuit was brought by six retired […]
It’s no secret that retirement and pension plans have come under increased scrutiny in recent years, amidst allegations that benefits are often miscalculated and underpaid. Here’s a checklist to help you avoid some of the most common plan mistakes: Check your plan documents to determine the types of covered compensation. Be sure all relevant […]
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has unveiled new guidance for healthcare workers and their employers on preparing for and responding to a pandemic flu, such as the avian influenza. Avian influenza—also known as bird flu—is caused by a virus that attacks wild birds and domestic poultry. A dangerous strain is rapidly infecting […]
I’m going to break with my usual business-oriented notes from the editor this week to write about something near and dear to my heart — dogs. After months of anticipation and speculation, the Obama family finally got their new dog, Bo (pictured on the left), this week and introduced him to the world. While the […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued an interim final rule that will continue to limit truckers to driving only 11 hours within a 14-hour duty period, after which they must go off duty for at least 10 hours. The interim rule was issued in response to a recent federal appeals court decision […]
The number of California workers killed on the job in 2000 was the lowest since 1992, when the state first published such data. Preliminary figures from the California Department of Industrial Relations show there were 553 deaths in 2000, down from 644 a decade ago. Over 41% of the total deaths resulted from transportation accidents, […]