Author: Todd Leeuwenburgh

Fiduciary Duties Are Myriad, So Safeguards Matter

Monitoring the performance of service providers, making required disclosures to participants and beneficiaries, keeping good records and filing reports with the government are just a few of the important functions a fiduciary must ensure are properly executed, an enforcement official at the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration unit told a group of […]

Turnover Costs: What to Include

Of the many HR metrics we study, perhaps some of the most requested are turnover metrics. It’s important to know how much turnover we have so we can make estimates on how much this turnover is costing the organization and to take steps to reduce both the turnover and the associated costs. These costs have […]

Ask the Expert: Disability Insurance and Medical Expenses

Can you explain how our medical benefits work with disability insurance? When does medical insurance terminate for an employee who is not working due to a short or long term disability? Does disability insurance cover any of the employee’s medical expenses? (We are covered with a private disability insurance, not through SDI).

Freedom and Opportunities for Collaboration Are Cherished Benefits

A newly released survey from Jive Software, Inc. in Palo Alto, California, finds that seven out of ten (72%) employees want to use more technology in the workplace that enables them to work from anywhere. Furthermore, the same percentage state that the freedom to try new tools makes them more effective in their jobs, with […]

Getting Strategic in 2016

By Holly Jones, JD, Senior Legal Editor Yesterday we heard from BLR® Senior Legal Editor Holly Jones, JD, who had some excellent tips on getting your goals strategically oriented for 2016. Today, more from Jones on setting and accomplishing strategic goals, posters in the workplace, and other HR housekeeping. Refinable Goals Refinable goals are those […]

2nd Circuit Mandates Supervision over FLSA Private Settlements

By Zachary D. Morahan, JD Most employers and their legal counsel are used to settling wage and hour claims in a simple and straightforward manner. Other than an agreement containing the appropriate terms and conditions, not much more was needed to settle such a claim before litigation began. With the exception of getting a case […]

Ask the Expert: Can We Substitute Reduced Rent for Overtime Pay?

We are planning to have one of our employees, who typically works Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., live in one of our apartments for a reduced rent rate. In exchange for this, on the weekends he will empty the dumpsters and address any maintenance calls that may occur during the weekend. We […]