Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
by Sophie E. Zdatny At a recent Employers Counsel Network (ECN) conference in Alexandria, Virginia, several notable speakers stopped by to provide their insights on current developments in the employment arena at the national level and to share their predictions for President Barack Obama’s second term. Highlights include increased regulatory activity from the Equal Employment […]
Abraham Lincoln once said, “I will prepare and some day my chance will come.” And for Lincoln, the opportunities did come in large part because he created them, says business and leadership blogger Dan Oswald. Lincoln was known for his hard work and determination. But it all started with two things: his willingness to prepare […]
When an employer fails to participate in the interactive process of finding a workplace accommodation for an employee with a disability, that misstep can be used as evidence of discrimination. Such a failure is not, however, an ADA violation when it stands alone, the 7th Circuit ruled in Basden v. Professional Transportation, Inc., No. 11-2880 […]
Fast-moving events have advanced state-level proposals aimed at regulating stop-loss, which would make it more expensive for small employers to self-insure health benefits, and put power over self-funding in the hands of state insurance commissioners. Utah law now requires stop-loss insurers to cover incurred and unpaid claims if a small employer plan terminates — an unprecedented requirement. […]
An employer provided enough evidence raising questions of a former employee’s possible gross misconduct to ward off her summary judgment motion regarding a COBRA notice claim. The employer noted the individual had committed gross misconduct by quitting the job without notice, refusing to follow supervisor instructions and initially lying about why she left work early […]
In fact, we turned to SmartJobs for the five questions that can help you decide whether a function is an essential function: 1. Does the position exist specifically to perform this function? For example, when a person is hired to proofread legal documents, the ability to proofread is an essential function. Or, for example, a […]
If you do have job descriptions, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has said that it will review or consider them, as well as other relevant information, when determining essential functions. Therefore, it is important to keep job descriptions current. Claiming later that some function not listed on the description is a task essential to […]
Many of the creative and cost-saving ways to keep your safety programs effective that we went over yesterday revolve around increased employee involvement. And keeping employees involved in safety efforts requires developing a positive safety attitude. Here are 5 keys to improving your employees’ attitudes about safety. 1. Take Safety Seriously Every employee must take […]
In today’s shaky economy, you may find out that your organization’s commitment to safety training programs is not as strong as you thought. But when it comes to safety, the stakes of cutting back are high. As training professionals know, tough times make vigilance to worker safety even more important. The threat of layoffs can […]
by Kathy Neal You’ve been verifying I-9s since the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) took effect in 1986. You know the difference between List A, B, and C documents, and you can fill out I-9s in your sleep. Imagine your surprise to receive a letter from the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair […]