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Quirky Overtime Questions You Probably Should Be Asking

Wage and hour ought to be simple, but our customers keep coming up with new twists. How many of these questions cover situations you face in your organization? Do I have to pay overtime on paid lunch breaks?Our workweek is 35 hours, plus we pay lunch breaks of 1 hour each day, totaling 40 hours […]

“Family Responsibility Discrimination”–A New Frontier?

If you’re not yet familiar with the term “family responsibility discrimination” (FRD), get ready—chances are, you’ll be hearing it a lot in the future. Although related to both sex and pregnancy discrimination, the term encompasses the broader idea that employers are biased against new parents/primary family care providers.

Minimizing Your Reorganization Cost in Canada

by Sara Parchello Many employers are trying to reorganize operations in order to survive this economic downturn. As Canadian employers know, a substantial change in an employee’s job functions can lead an employee to make a claim for constructive dismissal. This can result in significant liabilities when you can least afford it. How far can […]

We’re Sued—What to Do, How to Avoid It

In yesterday’s Advisor, we offered tips from attorney Stephen Harris on what to do when threatened with legal action. Today, we’ll look at Harris’s steps after initial fact-finding, plus an introduction to a unique tool to help with all your policy-making needs. Harris, of the law firm Wiggin & Dana in Hartford, Connecticut, delivered his […]

Hot List: Bestselling Business Books on CD on Amazon.com

Amazon.com updates its list of the bestselling books every hour. Here is a snapshot of what is hot right now, this Monday morning, February 23, in the “Business” category for books on CD. 1. The Secret (Unabridged, 4-CD Set) by Rhonda Byrne. A motivational book on positive thought for positive results. Byrne leads listeners through […]

Steps to Take When Legal Actions Threaten

As soon as you sense that action is being taken against your organization by an employee or former employee, it’s time to swing into action, says attorney Stephen Harris. When you delay, you increase risk. Harris, of the law firm Wiggin & Dana in Hartford, Connecticut, delivered his suggestions at a Society for Human Resource […]

More Details on COBRA Continuation Subsidy in Stimulus Package

Update Dec. 16: House Passes COBRA Subsidy Extension and Expansion You’re probably well aware by now that the $787 billion economic stimulus package signed by President Barack Obama this week will provide many out-of-work employees and their families with a reduced rate on continuing health care coverage under COBRA. Because the stimulus plan was adopted […]

Are Your Policies Compliant with New FMLA Regulations?

by Mike Maslanka The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) has been revised, and the regulations went into effect in January 2009. Time for a checkup of your company’s policies. Employers need to ask themselves the following questions: HR Guide to Employment Law: A practical compliance reference manual covering 14 topics, including hiring 1. Have […]

Top Employment Issues for States in 2009: Part 2 – FMLA, Discrimination, Minimum Wage, Safety

Last week, we discussed four employment law issues state legislatures will be grappling with in 2009 — layoff notification laws, immigration, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and it’s state equivalents, and unemployment benefits. This week, we’ll discuss four more – family and medical leave, workplace discrimination, minimum wage, and occupational safety. As with last […]

Bad Economy No Excuse for Not Succeeding

Bad news is everywhere. The recession is dominating the headlines. On a daily basis we hear about bailouts, layoffs, and bankruptcies. In light of all the bad news, how are we to react? If there ever was a time when one could step back and just mail it in, this would be it. I mean […]