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Section 503 Hiring Goal for Contractors Effective in March

The U.S. Department of Labor will finalize new Section 503 regulations Sept. 24, according to the Office of the Federal Register. The rules create several new responsibilities for federal contractors and subcontractors, including a mandate that they aim to have workers with disabilities make up 7 percent of their workforces. If the rules are published […]

Nevada law on social media privacy, credit reports takes effect October 1

Nevada’s new law restricting employer access to employees’ and applicants’ social media accounts and credit information goes into effect October 1. Assembly Bill 181, signed by Governor Brian Sandoval on June 13, provides protections for employees’ personal social media accounts and prohibits employers from conditioning employment on consumer credit reports or other credit information. The […]

Self-employed worker or salaried employee? Getting it wrong can be costly

By Myriam Robichaud You’re about to hire an employee. But he has his own business and wants to be an independent contractor. That way, he’ll pay less tax. And it’s easy for you too — you will just have to pay his invoices and won’t have to include him in your employee headcount. But wait. […]

Q&A on Electronic Employee Records

In this digital age, employers are finding there are brand-new questions they face while trying to stay in legal compliance with employee recordkeeping requirements. For example, what constitutes a valid electronic signature? Does an answer in email count as legally-binding when it comes to confirming managerial decisions? How long do specific types of documents need […]

5 Reasons to Embrace Pay-For-Performance

Pay-for-performance is fast becoming the new normal. We are seeing it in use by more and more companies to get the most out of the reduced compensation budgets we’ve had in recent years. “Everything in our daily lives is more performance-based than it ever has been in the past. In many professions, performance pay has […]

Employee Documentation Q&A: Job Descriptions, Performance Appraisals and Personnel Files

“Documentation can be extraordinarily helpful when it’s done completely, timely, and appropriately.” Ann Bowden-Hollis told us in a recent BLR webinar. But it can also be problematic if done improperly or without oversight. At the conclusion of the webinar, Bowden-Hollis answered participant questions including questions regarding how to address cognitive abilities in job requirements (to […]

Pension Plan Fiduciaries Should Know Basics of ‘Responsible’ Investing

Working with investment managers on optimal asset mixes and maximizing returns long has been important for employer retirement plan sponsors and committees. But in recent years it also has become advisable for those overseeing fund managers to understand responsible investing principles — at the same time they have become more important for many plan participants. […]

Is Giving Shoes Away a Great Business Strategy?

Giving feels good on its own, says TOMS Shoes founder Blake Mycoskie, but it’s also a great business strategy. TOMS’ one-for-one philosophy (the company gives away a pair of shoes for every pair it sells) has led it to success, he says. Giving feels good on its own, says TOMS Shoes founder Blake Mycoskie, but […]

Questions and answers on CFRA, FMLA leave in California

It’s crucial for California employers to get the information needed to properly designate absences so that FMLA/CFRA leave can be administered legally. But proper administration isn't always black and white. For example, if an employee's doctor advises that he or she is under the care of specialists, can an employer require that the specialist complete the FMLA certification?

Equal opportunity offender

No discussion of the film Horrible Bosses is complete without covering Kevin Spacey’s character, David Harken. Although he is arguably the most intimidating and even frightening of the three horrible bosses (two of which I covered in earlier posts, #1 and #2), his workplace conduct gives rise to the lowest litigation value from an employment […]