Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
by Jessica Webb-Ayer The Obama administration recently announced that new COBRA model notices are available. The notices alert employees about their ability to continue their healthcare coverage through COBRA following certain events that otherwise would result in termination of coverage. The administration updated the notices to make it clear that if employees are eligible for […]
Now that summer is nearly upon us, you may have students looking for hands-on work experience contacting you, offering to work as unpaid volunteers or interns.
By Ralph N. Nero and Nicole R. Singh You’re about to terminate an employee’s employment without cause. He’s been with you for 30 years, earns $100,000, has a middle management position, and is 69 years old. He could retire with a full pension. Surely you don’t have to provide him with a severance package? Absolutely, […]
Payments by qualified retirement plans for accident or health insurance will be taxable distributions to participants in most cases, starting with the 2015 tax year, according to new IRS final regulations. Retirees are excluded from having to pay tax on plan payments for medical benefits, however. IRS on May 6 approved amendments to 26 C.F.R. […]
“Every spring, as college students nationwide prepare for finals and pull all-nighters to wrap up their spring semesters, many simultaneously ramp up their search for the perfect internship,” says Laura Fortman, principal deputy administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) in a blog. “The WHD understands that these “foot-in-the-door” […]
by Molly DiBianca Delaware has joined the ranks of states adopting “ban the box” laws, measures that limit how employers can request criminal history information during the hiring process. Delaware’s law, signed into law by Governor Jack Markell on May 8, makes criminal histories and credit scores off limits on applications for public-sector jobs. Here […]
Vacation time and paid holidays may be a relatively standard benefit to offer to full-time employees, but in the United States, it’s not actually legally mandated. While many employers are well aware of this, it’s important to make a note of, since employees often treat it as a right. In fact, vacation time is typically […]
It’s prudent to pay close attention to travel pay regulations because travel-related issues pose a significant risk for wage and hour claims. This is, unfortunately, an often-overlooked area.
What happens if a manager forgets to inform HR that an employee has absences that could be FMLA-qualifying? Can those absences still be counted against the employee's 12-week FMLA allotment for the year? What about when an employee has an emergency and must take leave immediately but was unable to request it? Can that count […]
[For the beginning of the survey report, go here.] Telecommuting Formal telecommuting guidelines are in place and employees are required to sign a formal agreement for 23.8%. An allowance to cover employee expenses for setting up telecommuting at their home is provided by 33.1%, 40.3% reimburse telecommuting employees for monthly Internet connections, and 54.2% reimburse […]