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Are You Plugged in to Electrical Safety Training?

The material in today’s Advisor is adapted from a course in TrainingToday’s Workplace Safety Library called “Electrical Safety—Unqualified Worker.” This training session is designed for unqualified workers, such as machine operators, powered industrial truck operators, and construction workers, about electrical hazards. Additional training is required for qualified workers who are authorized to work on or […]

From Gattaca to GINA: Use of genetic information in workplace is problematic

If there is one thing that is universal about the entertainment world, it’s that it makes us all feel inadequate. Yes, with the airbrushed photos and the digital editing techniques, the stars and starlets who grace the covers of magazines and show up on the big screen all seem to have something (or multiple things) […]

Form I-9s—Still a Hassle and Audits Are Heating Up

Immigration is a hot issue, and that means increased scrutiny of Employment Eligibility Verification Forms (more commonly known as a Form I-9). Attorney Roger Tsai clarified employer responsibilities at BLR’s Advanced Employment Issues Symposium held recently in Las Vegas. IRCA’s Requirements The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) requires every employer to complete […]

Human rights claim disallowed; victim was part of the harassment

By Nicola Sutton In December 2013 we reported on the allegations faced by the Miami Dolphins that one of its players had been bullied and harassed by his teammates, an issue faced by many employers. Sometimes these issues are complicated when a complaining employee has been or is an active participant in the complained-of behavior. […]

What is a return-to-work program?

Looking for a way to keep your workers’ compensation costs in check? What about getting injured employees healed and back as quickly as possible? What if all of these goals could be met with a return-to-work program? Would you be interested?

Early Settlement May Prevent Collective Actions?

Collective wage/hour suits can turn relatively small and inexpensive problems into very large and very expensive ones, but there may be a technique that makes the collective action moot, says Attorney Deanna Brinkerhoff. In Genesis Healthcare Corp. v. Symczyk, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that, at least in this case, action by the employer to […]

Devil Is in Details of Final Mental Health Parity Rules

Pre-authorization procedures, plan disclosures and geographical restrictions are just a few features  group health plans will need to re-examine by the time the recently finalized mental health parity rules take effect. For calendar-year plans, this means Jan. 1, 2015 — less than a year away. The interaction of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity […]

Training Experts Say Drastic Changes Coming in 2014

Major changes in the workplace will occur in 2014 as “old-school” management protocols and practices give way to fast-moving, as well as more productive and more satisfying, models for engaging employees, according to Fierce, Inc., leadership development and training experts. The insights and predictions are based on Fierce, Inc.’s training experiences with organizations ranging from […]

Free Coverage for 11 Months Eliminates Need for COBRA Notice Penalties, Court Rules

Due to an administrative error, an employer clearly did not provide a qualified beneficiary with a COBRA election notice. However, the qualified beneficiary also benefited from that mistake by receiving 11 months of free health coverage. For that reason, a federal district court in Iowa rejected claims that the employer should be subject to COBRA […]