DOL Finalizes AHP Rule in Slightly Narrower Form
Employer groups will be able to start offering association health plans (AHPs) as soon as this September 1, under the final AHP rule announced June 19 by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).
Most Popular
Ghosting Tales: A Mini-Series – Part 3
In a recent article we explored the concept of ghosting, where an applicant that would have been a good fit and maybe even has accepted an offer just vanishes without a word. Thanks to a collaboration with recruiters at Addison Group, we have a special three-part series. Each part will include one ghosting tale. If […]
Wrongful Termination: Private Employee’s Free-Speech Claim Fails
Joan Grinzi, a case manager for San Diego Hospice Corp., was fired after 13 years on the job as an at-will employee. Hospice, which is a private company, allegedly initially told Grinzi that she was being terminated because she belonged to the Women’s Garden Circle, an investment group that Hospice considered to be an illegal […]
3 Things Small Businesses Can Do Today to Lower Insurance Costs
You may be asking yourself: ‘How can I, as a business owner or HR professional during this crisis, reduce my insurance expenses right now?’ Managing cash flow is at the top of people’s minds right now, and yes, there is an opportunity to lower your insurance expenses immediately.
5 Tips for Bringing Back the Furloughed Workforce … The Right Way
An overwhelming 38.6 million people have filed jobless claims to date, and this number continues to climb. Thankfully, a majority of companies do intend to bring their employees back, with 77% of furloughed employees expecting to be rehired once stay-at-home mandates are lifted in their area.
Kansas Case Shows Perils of ‘Pretext’ in Disciplinary Actions
A recent Kansas federal court decision provides a good reminder of the importance of engaging in the interactive process when you’re dealing with disability accommodation requests. The ruling also highlights the perils of “pretext” (or false excuses) when articulating nondiscriminatory reasons for disciplining an employee.
Waiving Departing Employee’s Notice Period Can Raise Discrimination Concerns
In a recent article, we looked at the pros and cons of letting soon-to-be-departing employees work the duration of their notice period or whether it’s better to cut ties quickly. Of special concern to many HR managers is whether waiving the notice period can somehow be considered discriminatory. Coincidentally, the Iowa Court of Appeals just […]
Mental Health in the Workplace: A DEI Issue
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) issues were once an afterthought for most companies. But as research and data have revealed the financial upsides of investing in DEI, more and more companies are doing just that. Yet many still view DEI through the primary lens of race and gender. And while these certainly are important aspects, […]
‘Ur’ Hired: Why You Should Be Texting Job Candidates
The job interview process is getting longer. Although there are many reasons for this increase—including more thorough “screening methods” such as group panel interviews, background checks, and skills tests—one of the biggest delays for recruiters comes at the very onset of the interview process, where screening a high volume of candidates is bogged down by waiting for qualified applicants to call back.
Continuing Presence of Coronavirus Brings New Obligations Related to OSHA
As employers begin looking beyond the immediate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and start thinking of bringing people back to work, they will be wise to realize the new virus means permanent changes related to their obligation to provide a safe workplace.