Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
No longer limited to back injuries and broken bones, workers’ comp claims have taken on new meaning over the past decade as stress-related claims have become commonplace. While some employers throw their arms up in frustration, a new California Supreme Court ruling demonstrates how handling this kind of claim wisely can limit your exposure to […]
The California Supreme Court recently ruled that when making benefits decisions, you don’t have to offer older employees the same perks you offer younger ones. Here’s what happened and why you still must be cautious when basing benefits decisions on age.
Suppose a former employee applies for a position with your company. You check their personnel record and discover the person was terminated. Following standard company procedure not to rehire previously discharged employees, you reject the person’s application outright.But the applicant turns around and sues you under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, claiming you really […]
David Virts was an “over-the-road” truck driver at Consolidated Freightways Corp.’s Nashville, Tenn., terminal. Virts refused to go on overnight “sleeper runs” with female drivers because it would violate his religious beliefs. Now a federal appeals court has ruled that the trucking company wasn’t required to accommodate Virts because it would have been an undue […]
The question of who can be sued for work-related actions has become a hot topic in recent years. The California Supreme Court clarified that supervisors couldn’t be held individually responsible for workplace discrimination claims. But the California Legislature recently said any employee can be sued for harassment.
If your employees take home tips, you should be aware that a new U.S. Supreme Court decision approves the way the Internal Revenue Service figures your tax liability on those tips. And if you should want to dispute the amount owed, you’ll now need to keep more detailed records of each employee’s tips.
The California Supreme Court has issued a new ruling that gives religious institutions broad reign to discriminate in the workplace based on religion. We’ll explain this decision’s uncertain impact.
The Internal Revenue Service has issued a ruling that allows employees to carry over, tax free, money provided by their employers for out-of-pocket health costs. Here’s what you should know about the new rule.
The Internal Revenue Service has postponed indefinitely a plan to begin collecting Social Security taxes on two types of stock options. Industry groups had complained that the proposed 15.3% tax would be detrimental to incentive stock options and employee stock purchase plans. The payroll taxes, which fund Social Security and Medicare, would be divided between […]
The California Department of Insurance has approved a 10.1% hike in the average workers’ compensation pure premium rates. The increase takes effect July 1, 2002, and follows on the heels of a 10.2% increase that took effect in January 2002. Although the pure premium rate is only advisory and insurers aren’t required to follow the […]