Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
by Jim Brown Sedgwick LLP A new law expanding smoking restrictions in California workplaces is set to take effect on January 1. State law previously restricted smoking in places of employment based on “enclosed space” areas. In addition to requiring signage, California Labor Code Section 6404.5 provided a list of exceptions or exemptions from the […]
Yesterday we discussed the importance of a solid, year-round communications plan for discussing health benefits with employees. Today let’s dig deeper and explore what to do when introducing an entirely new benefit, such as a health savings account (HSA).
The antiretaliation provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) new electronic record-keeping rule are set to be implemented on December 1 after a Texas federal judge denied a request for a preliminary injunction on November 28. The eventual fate of the rule isn’t known since Judge Sam Lindsay of the U.S. District Court […]
by Jeremy Thompson The leading cause of death in the United States is heart disease. People who have heart disease are at higher risk for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), but a person who appears healthy and has no known heart disease or other risk factors can also suffer SCA. According to the U.S. Department of […]
One of the most difficult communication challenges for Human Resources professionals is explaining healthcare benefits. With healthcare options consistently changing and the list of medical acronyms forever expanding, it’s no wonder developing these communications can be frustrating. Yet, employees need help understanding the issues, which is why developing a strong healthcare benefits communications effort is […]
Many people know actor Mila Kunis for her role in the TV series “That ’70s Show” and her film roles in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and the drama Black Swan. Kunis has recently been in the headlines for her open letter on sexism in Hollywood and the workplace entitled, “You’ll Never Work in This Town Again…” […]
by Dan Oswald Thanksgiving is behind us, and the holidays are in full swing. Most of us feel busier than ever this time of year. With parties to attend, gifts to buy, and anticipated travel for the holidays, there certainly is a lot going on. How do we find time to get everything done and […]
by Keri Bennett In Canada, courts can award two extraordinary forms of damages in a wrongful dismissal action: aggravated damages or punitive damages. In a wrongful dismissal action, employees who are terminated for cause often claim that they should be awarded aggravated and/or punitive damages in addition to reasonable notice damages. In a recent decision […]
by Boyd Byers In the holiday classic National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, family patriarch Clark Griswold is distressed because he has not yet received his Christmas bonus, which he is counting on to cover a check he wrote for a new swimming pool. Finally, on Christmas Eve, a courier arrives with a delivery. As his family […]
A federal district court temporarily blocked the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) new overtime rule on November 22, just days before it was scheduled to take effect. The judge who issued the order called the regulation “unlawful” and said such actions should be left to Congress. At the request of 21 states, the U.S. District […]