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No FMLA for Grandparents, and Other Timely Tips

“Don’t try to be a ‘we’re one big family’ company and allow FMLA for grandparents,” says attorney Beverly Garofalo. “It will come back to bite you every time.” Garofalo, managing partner of the Hartford office of national employment law firm Jackson Lewis, delivered her remarks at a recent seminar sponsored by workforce management software supplier […]

Democrats Introduce the Employee Free Choice Act

The Democrats blazed ahead into battle today (March 10) by introducing the much-anticipated Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) in both houses of Congress. EFCA, which has been the subject of countless debates, is a controversial bill that would allow a majority of employees to form a union by signing card-check petitions. Under the Employee Free […]

Paying Foreign and Canadian Crews Comparable Wages Not Good Enough

By Thora Sigurdson, Nicola Sutton, and Derek Knoechel SELI Canada Inc. entered into a joint venture with SNC Lavalin and successfully bid on a contract to build a large rapid transit project in the Vancouver area. The so-called “Canada Line” has been a “hot button” project, causing heated debate about the cost to taxpayers, the […]

Please Don’t Investigate? You May Want to Agree

When an employee makes a complaint, conventional wisdom says that you have to investigate even when requested not to, says attorney Jonathan Segal. While that’s correct for most cases, recognize that there may also be some risks in investigating. Segal offered his tips at a recent SHRM conference. Segal is a partner in the Philadelphia […]

Hot List: New York Times Bestselling Hardcover Business Books

The following is a list of the bestselling hardcover business books as ranked by the New York Times on March 9. 1. Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell. hy some people succeed — it has to do with luck and opportunities as well as talent — from the author of Blink: The Power […]

HR CSI: When Should You Investigate?

The first flaw in investigations is that they often don’t take place, says attorney Jonathan Segal. Today, he offers a clear list of circumstances that demand an investigation. In tomorrow’s issue, he’ll tell you when you might not want to investigate. Segal, a partner in the Philadelphia office of the WolfBlock law firm, offered his […]

Utah Supreme Court Issues Major Workers’ Comp Ruling

In a very recent decision handed down by the Utah Supreme Court, the court has substantially limited the protections afforded to employers under the workers’ compensation statute. This decision involved an industrial accident at a Chevron refinery near Salt Lake City. According to the facts of the written opinion, Chevron tried a new, less expensive […]

What Employers Need to Know When Employees Seek Loans, Withdrawals from Retirement Plans

(Updated Dec. 4, 2009) by Douglas R. Chamberlain When facing financial difficulties, employees often look to their retirement plans as a possible source of needed funds. Many plans offer participant loans or permanent withdrawals, the latter generally on a hardship basis. However, plan loans and withdrawals can jeopardize the employee’s retirement benefits, and both are […]

Obama Administration’s Changes at DOL, EEOC, and NLRB

The changes promised by the Obama administration are beginning to take hold at the federal agencies regulating the workplace. Typically, the change in leadership can be a strong predictor of the changes in policies and directions that will be pursued by a new administration. Not surprisingly, the changes that already have occurred suggest that we […]