Category: HR Management & Compliance

There are dozens of details to take care of in the day-to-day operation of your department and your company. We give you case studies, news updates, best practices and training tips that keep your organization fully in compliance with ever-changing employment law, and you fully aware of emerging HR trends.

Military Leave: New Ruling Addresses Rights Of Employees Who Serve—Do You Know Your Obligations?

As thousands of reservists are being called to military action in the Balkans and taking leave from their jobs, it’s a good time to brush up on the intricacies of the federal law that protects the rights of workers who serve in the armed forces. And a new federal court decision upholds the special benefits […]

News Notes: Worker Who Lost Pregnancy Bias Suit Ordered To Pay Employer’s Attorney’s Fees

A trial judge has turned the tables on a lawyer who failed to convince a jury that the law firm in which she was a partner had refused to accommodate her pregnancy. Finding that Shari Cohen Rosenman’s lawsuit was unreasonable, the court ordered her to pay $231,000 toward the attorney’s fees and costs of the […]

News Notes: On-Site Child Care Survey; New Resources Available

A new survey of 400 mid- to large-sized employers by human resource consulting firm William M. Mercer and child care consultant Bright Horizons Family Solutions found that many employers are offering on-site child care as a recruiting and employee retention tool. Twelve percent of respondents had an on-site facility, 8% used a nearby center and […]

News Notes: “Exempt” Drugstore Managers Sue For Millions In Unpaid Overtime

Rite Aid Corp. has been slapped with a class action lawsuit claiming that as many as 1,600 managers and assistant managers at approximately 800 drugstores in California were improperly classified as exempt from overtime. The employees charge that Rite Aid put pressure on managers to deny overtime to hourly clerks and, as a result, managers […]

Sexual Harassment: Policy Loophole Costs Employer $100,000; Immediate Steps To Take

Recent court rulings have emphasized the importance of having an easy and reliable procedure for reporting sexual harassment incidents. In fact, in many cases, the terms of your sexual harassment policy can make the difference between avoiding liability-or paying huge damages. But in an evolving aspect of the law, a surprising new federal appeals court […]

Americans With Disabilities Act: EEOC Issues New Guidelines On When You Do—And Don’t—Have To Accommodate Disabled Employees

The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has released comprehensive guidelines designed to help its investigators analyze complaints-and help employers comply with their accommodation obligations-under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The new enforcement guide attempts to answer frequently asked employer questions on a range of topics-from how to handle medical verification of a disability to when […]

News Notes: Employee Benefits Data Now Available

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics has just released a new survey showing the latest trends in employee benefits. The study describes what medium and large private employers offer in terms of paid leave, health and retirement benefits, and life insurance, and it provides a useful benchmarkfor comparing your own employee benefit plans. When it […]

News Notes: New Health Benefit Brochures Available

The U.S. Department of Labor has released three free brochures to help educate workers covered by employer-sponsored health plans. The brochures address topics such as how marriage, pregnancy, childbirth and divorce affect health care choices; what to do when a child is no longer dependent; how retiring or changing jobs impact coverage options; and how […]

News Notes: Undocumented Workers Encouraged To File Complaints

Under a new policy, the U.S. Department of Labor and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, which oversees government contractors, will no longer inspect I-9 forms when visiting a worksite to follow up on worker complaints about labor violations. The policy shift is an attempt to encourage undocumented employees to file such complaints without […]