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The New Pension Protection Act: What You Need to Know

The nation’s new retirement plan law puts additional compliance burdens on employers, and especially on HR. Here are some of the key changes. The 1990s were boom time in America. The stock market surged and billions were made in the blink of an eye. “Greed is good” was the mantra of the day. But, as […]

How to Protect Your Company from Family Responsibilities Discrimination Lawsuits

By Cynthia Thomas Calvert Just My E-Pinion Today, E-pinions features a guest columnist. Cynthia Thomas Calvert is an employer-side attorney and Deputy Director of the Center for Worklife Law, a non-profit organization specializing in the emerging issue of family responsibilities discrimination …and the rising number of lawsuits it’s engendered. Here’s what she has to say: […]

The Return

LITIGATION VALUE: $300,000+ Thank god for damage caps. No matter how well intentioned, throwing a “welcome back” party for your Mexican-American employee by decorating the break room with piñatas, paper sombreros and streamers in the colors of the Mexican flag is not a good idea. Ever. Under no set of circumstances. Sure, Michael (and the […]

Performance Appraisals: What Supervisors Need to Know … and Do

The performance appraisal process offers great benefits to both employees and the organization. These concepts may help your supervisors do the best job of it. Yesterday’s Daily Advisor article listed a number of mistakes supervisors often make during performance appraisal meetings … things like discussing activities instead of results, getting emotionally involved, or simply talking […]

Employee Expenses: DLSE Proposes Expense Reimbursement Rules

Under Labor Code section 2802, employers must indemnify employees for “all necessary expenditures or losses” an employee incurs in direct connection with performing his or her job duties. But employers, employees, and courts have grappled with issues such as what must be reimbursed and at what rates, and whether paying an increased salary or commission […]

Leave: San Francisco Sick Leave Ordinance Poster Now Available

On Feb. 5, 2007, the landmark San Francisco law (Proposition F) requiring paid sick leave for all employees in the city and county of San Francisco takes effect. The law, which was approved by San Francisco voters during last November’s election, requires employers to provide covered employees with one hour of paid sick leave per […]

Diversity: What Every Employee Needs to Know

Workplace diversity brings many benefits, but only if employees support it. Here are the concepts you need to train on to make that happen … and a tool to do that training for you. If you’re a fan of 1950s TV sitcoms where the white male head of the family heads off to business each […]