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What ‘Superpower’ Would Help You Do Your Job Better?

Maybe as a kid you wanted to fly or see through walls like your favorite superhero/superheroine. But Kristin Piombino, editorial assistant at Ragan Communications, is asking readers to take a poll on what superpower would help them to do their job better. Piombino gave these choices of superpowers for the poll: The ability to freeze […]

Is ‘Highly Qualified’ Highly Ineffective?

Have you recently interviewed a self-described “highly qualified” applicant? What about a “team player”? According to a new OfficeTeam survey, if you play a part in the hiring process, it’s more than likely that you may be sick of hearing these terms. The survey was developed by OfficeTeam and was conducted by an independent research […]

OSHA injury, illness summary to be posted by February 1

February 1 marks the deadline for covered employers to post a new summary of work-related injuries and illnesses. The summary—the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Form 300A—is required to be posted in the workplace every year from February 1 to April 30. The summary form must be completed and posted even if no […]

Are You Resolved to Give Wellness Training in 2013?

This exercise is applicable for all employees and comes from one of BLR’s popular HR Training Presentations in PowerPoint® sessions on “Healthy Aging.” The objective of the exercise is to find out how well trainees are meeting the requirements of healthy aging. Instructions: Have trainees complete the worksheet below. (Let them know that this is […]

The 8 Ways to Stop Intermittent/Reduced Leave Abuse

In yesterday’s Advisor, attorney Drew Alexis offered suggestions for curbing FMLA abuse; today, he summarizes his eight ways to stop abuse, plus we introduce 10-Minute HR Trainer Alexis, who offered his intermittent leave tips during BLR’s Advanced Employment Issues Symposium, held recently in Las Vegas, is with the Kinaga Law Firm in Los Angeles. 1. […]

California Employers Face State Rules that Exceed ADA

Employers in California must comply with a new set of rules that go above and beyond what the federal Americans with Disabilities Act requires. While ADA and its regulations do not explicitly require employers to participate in the interactive process of finding an appropriate accommodation for an employee with a disability, a failure to do […]

Court OKs $1.3M Settlement in COBRA/ARRA Class Action

Although it admitted no wrongdoing, an employer and plan administrator agreed to pay a $1.3 million settlement to a group of former employees who alleged they never received COBRA election or premium subsidy information after their involuntary termination of employment in 2010. In addition to COBRA and premium subsidy notice claims, they also sued the […]

DB Plans Can Be Required to Provide COLA to Lump-sum Recipients

With lump-sum retirement distributions gaining favor among employers with defined benefit plans, sponsors should note a decision from a federal district court that supported the right of lump-sum payout recipients to receive a cost-of-living adjustment that is actuarially equivalent to the COLA paid to annuitants. In Pikas v. Williams Cos., District Judge Gregory Frizzell granted […]

Who is it really all about?

by Dan Oswald What’s your favorite subject? For many people it’s me. I don’t mean me; I mean them. To them, me is them. Got it? What I’m trying to say is that often a person’s favorite subject is himself. People want to talk about themselves. People like to think about themselves. People are concerned […]

Exemptions–Can You Define ‘Management,’ ‘Customarily’ and ‘Particular Weight’ ?

Yesterday’s Advisor pondered the issue of how much nonexempt work an exempt employee may do; today, issues around the executive exemption plus an introduction to Managing an HR Department of One. Once again, we turn to BLR/HRHero’s Wage & Hour Self-audit Guide: Practical Solutions for HR for guidance. The DOL’s tests for the executive exemption […]