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Outsource SM Background Checks? Pros and Cons

Yesterday’s Advisor featured attorney Kevin McCormick’s tips for social media sleuthing; today, his take on outsourcing social media searches, plus news of an upcoming free webcast on talent management. Several consumer reporting agencies specialize in social media searches, McCormick says. For example, Social Intelligence. This California start-up is “FTC-approved” in that an investigation was conducted […]

Train Employees to Use the Internet Securely

The “2012 NCSA/Symantec National Small Business Study” (www.staysafeonline.org/stay-safe-online/resources) was conducted by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and Symantec. The study found that 87 percent of small businesses have at least one employee who uses the Internet daily. In addition, 70 percent of owners/operators of small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the United States indicated […]

Administering FMLA/CFRA leave

Administering FMLA/CFRA leave can cause headaches even for the most organized of HR professionals. What are the legal notices the employer is required to provide? What can the employer ask the employee to provide and how much notice can be required? Does your organization know how to proceed when a leave request comes in?

Here Comes EEOC 2013—Charges, Investigations, and Claims

Review of Charge Activity, Backlog, and Benefits Provided On November 19, 2012, the EEOC announced the publication of the FY 2012 Performance and Accountability Report. During FY 2012, the Commission again received nearly 100,000 charges, with the past 3 years involving a record number of charges in the Commission’s 47-year history. Since FY 2006, there […]

It’s better to be Dorothy than the Wizard

Over the weekend, an adaptation of The Wizard of Oz was released. If you’re like me, you grew up watching the 1939 classic. The new film got me thinking about those wonderful characters created by L. Frank Baum. There’s the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and of course Dorothy. Each one is etched […]

Is a 3% Merit Increase the ‘New Normal’?

Most companies are looking at around 3 percent for their merit budgets, says consultant Terry Pasteris, but they’re wishing they had 5 percent. In today’s Advisor, how she makes that (appear) to happen, plus an introduction to the all-comp-in-one-place website, Compensation.BLR.com. Salary Increase Budget Surveys Most employers are working with 3 percent for merit, as […]

Social media background checks? ‘I’m Not a Fan’

“Social media background checks are a hot item,” says attorney Kevin McCormick, “but I’m not a fan.” Sneaky, Low, Invasive Furthermore, social sleuthing smacks of “Sneaky,” “Low,” and “Invasion,” says McCormick. “One thing I know is what juries like and what they don’t like, and they don’t like that.” Chair of the Labor and Employment […]

More Pension Sponsors Considering Lump-sum Payouts

As defined benefit plan sponsors look harder for ways to cut expenses and lower exposure to market forces that challenge keeping their pension obligations funded, an obvious cost to evaluate is their commitment to lifetime retirement benefits for participants. Nearly 40 percent of U.S. employers with DB plans told Aon Hewitt in its recent 2013 […]

Small Employers May See Fewer Choices on SHOP in 2014, HHS Says

A health reform requirement that all insurers offer four levels of health coverage to small businesses would be delayed until 2015 under proposed rules scheduled to be published March 11 in the Federal Register. Under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposal, small employers may get one choice of health coverage in 2014. […]