Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
A reform requirement that all insurers must offer four levels of health coverage to small businesses would be delayed until 2015 under proposed rules scheduled to be published March 11 in the Federal Register. Under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposal, small employers may get one choice of health coverage in 2014. […]
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that the cap has been reached for H-2B work visas for the final six months of 2006. The H-2B visa program allows employers to request foreign workers to fill a one-time, peak-load, intermittent, or seasonal need for labor when no workers are available in the local […]
Beginning in April 2007, California HR professionals will have the opportunity to earn a California-specific HR certification, the first of its kind.
This year looks to be another blockbuster in terms of new employment-related legislation. Next month, we’ll have a full report from Sacramento and Washington, including details on a federal proposal now supported by the beleaguered U.S. Department of Labor to overturn its recent opinion letter and exempt stock options from overtime pay calculations. We’ll also update […]
Employers can expect continued uncertainty regarding whether they will need to adjust their plans, documents and policies to accommodate same-sex spouses. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on June 5 refused a petition that the full bench of the court rehear Perry v. Brown, Nos. 10-16696, 11-16577. That lets stand the ruling by a […]
A California Court of Appeal has ruled that Beverly Hospital in Montebello didn’t violate the state family leave law by terminating a physical therapist who missed work to help her seriously ill mother move to a new apartment. Marjorie Pang claimed her time off was protected because she was providing psychological care for a […]
As we reported in an earlier article, the government recently released new privacy regulations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). As the April 14, 2003, compliance deadline approaches, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued guidance (available on our website), including frequently asked questions, explaining significant aspects of the […]
The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued revised rules regulating driving hours and rest periods for professional truckers. The rules, which take effect Jan. 4, 2004, will permit professional truck drivers to drive up to 11 hours during a 14-hour on-duty period, provided the trucker receives a 10-hour off-duty period following the shift. For short-haul […]
At the 11th hour, a joint committee of the state Assembly passed a bill that is intended to reign in the increasing costs of workers’ compensation. Although it remains to be seen whether the measure will achieve the projected up-front savings of $5.3 billion and annual savings of about $5 billion, the changes are far-reaching […]