Employment Law Tip: Ready for the Minimum Wage Hike?
As we head into the last week of 2006, employers that haven’t done so already must take quick steps to ensure they’ll be ready to comply with the new California minimum wage come January 1.
Tag: california hr
Immigration: H-2B Visa Cap Reached
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it has received a sufficient number of petitions to reach H-2B cap of 33,000 H-2B workers for the first six months of fiscal year 2007 (FY 2007). The H-2B visa program allows U.S. employers to request foreign workers to fill a one-time, peak load, intermittent, or […]
Health Benefits: New HIPAA Nondiscrimination Rules for Wellness Programs
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has published final rules regarding compliance with the nondiscrimination provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for wellness programs. The rules will be effective on the first day of the plan year beginning on or after July 1, 2007. For calendar year […]
Employment Law Tip: Avoiding Colds and Flu
The cooler weather that has arrived in many parts of the state has also ushered in cold and flu season—which could mean the beginning of high rates of absenteeism in the workplace. Here are some measures you and your employees can take to help keep everyone healthy and productive:
Safety: DOL Offers Nine Tips for Safe Holiday Parties
If you’re planning a holiday party for employees, be sure to check out the U.S. Department of Labor’s Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace website, which offers nine important tips for planning a safe holiday party and preventing impaired driving.
Wage and Hour: IBM Will Pay $65 Million to Settle Overtime Suit
IBM has agreed to pay $65 million to settle a class action lawsuit charging the computer firm with misclassifying employees as exempt from overtime. In particular, the suit alleges, IBM incorrectly classified technical services professionals and information technology specialists as exempt, even though those positions don’t qualify for exemption under California or federal wage and […]
Sex Discrimination: Pre-Hire Strength Test Was Biased, Says Court
A federal appeals court has ruled that a pre-employment strength test administered to applicants for jobs at Dial Corporation’s Armour Star sausage-making plant in Fort Madison, Iowa, discriminated against women. The decision upholds a lower court ruling last year ordering Dial to pay $3 million to a group of women who were rejected for hire […]
Union Organizing: Employers Receiving State Funds Must Maintain Neutrality During Organizing Campaigns; Why Employers Should Prepare
In a victory for unions, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld California’s “union neutrality” law that curtails the right of certain employers receiving state funds to use this money to deter union organizing.