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Investment Fee Disclosures Leave Most Participants Unmoved

A “snapshot” survey conducted in October found the start of disclosure of fees from retirement plan service providers spurred little change in the behavior of either plan participants or sponsors. A total of 176 defined contribution plan sponsors responded to the Plan Sponsor Council of America’s survey, launched a few weeks after sponsors began disclosing […]

How do You Train Employees To Stay Focused on Safety When Their Work Becomes Routine?

Gomez is assistant vice chancellor for facilities management and environmental health and safety at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). The university is known for a strong commitment to undergraduate education and top research and graduate programs. Its new school of law graduates its first class this year. According to Gomez, safety is increasingly integrated […]

North Dakota employers need to be ready for new smoking law

by Lisa Edison-Smith North Dakota employers need to take steps to comply with a new antismoking law that will take effect on December 6, 2012. On November 6, voters approved Measure 4 by a 2-1 margin. The law “prohibit[s] smoking, including the use of electronic smoking devices, in public places and most places of employment […]

HHS relaxes state insurance exchange decision deadlines

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires states to establish health insurance exchanges to provide individuals and small employers with access to affordable insurance coverage beginning January 1, 2014. States have the flexibility to design and operate exchanges that best meet their needs while complying with the ACA’s statutory and regulatory standards. A state that chooses […]

Indefinite protection for federal employee disabled by work-related injury

by Nicola Sutton When the employment relationship becomes impossible to perform because of a factor outside the control of a Canadian employer or employee, the employee’s employment can be terminated by virtue of frustration of contract. When an employee won’t be able to return to work because of injury or illness, the same applies. But […]

HR’s New Stumbling Block Is the Bathroom?

With states and municipalities passing laws designating gender identity as a protected class and the number of employees self-identifying with gender identity issues increasing, many employers are concerned, especially with transgender employees and bathrooms. Sad to say, that’s where it’s at in HR today, worrying about how to juggle toilets to avoid discriminating on the […]

Courts Penalize Employer for Denial of Intermittent Leave

When a court determines that an employer has interfered with an employee’s right to leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act, the monetary damages can be quite severe. While awards of front pay, back pay and attorney fees are the usual penalties paid by employers found guilty of FMLA violations, FMLA also requires an […]

Employer to Pay $5M To Settle Inflexible Leave Policy Allegations

An employer will pay almost $5 million to settle claims it automatically fired employees who used 12 weeks of medical leave and were not ready to return to work, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced Nov. 9. The settlement resolves claims EEOC filed alleging that the automatic termination policy violated the reasonable accommodation provisions […]

Tips on Getting the Biggest Bang from Your Training Buck

Use these approaches to get the best return on training investments: View training as an ongoing process. Reassess training needs regularly to make sure that current needs—not outdated ones—are being addressed. Seek employees’ input. In addition to asking supervisors and managers to identify skills gaps, talk to individual employees about their training needs and encourage […]

Are You Getting the Biggest Bang for Your Training Buck?

Trainers are left to juggle these competing interests and to justify the company’s continued investment in training. However, trainers can create buy-in by demonstrating the value of training and positioning it as a crucial part of employees’ work, rather than a distraction from it. Anecdotal success stories can help create a positive mindset about training, […]