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Governor Wilson recently approved two laws, one of which will make it easier for smaller employers to offer health benefits to part-time workers, and the other which changes the unemployment insurance rules to allow benefits to employees who are victims of domestic violence. Both measures take effect on January 1, 1999. Here are the key […]
An IRS audit claiming you misclassified workers as independent contractors rather than employees can be frustrating and expensive to resolve. But recent changes in IRS procedures for handling independent contractor classification problems may take some of the sting out of dealing with the government. New Rules For Independent Contractor Disputes Under the prior rules, if […]
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation has published a new guide to assist workers in understanding how defined benefit pension plans operate and the rights and options of plan participants. “A Predictable, Secure Pension for Life: Defined Benefit Pensions” is available by calling (888) 878-3256 or on the Internet at www.pbgc.gov. Also, a new Department of Labor […]
Employers frequently insert confidentiality provisions into termination and settlement agreements to prevent others from learning the details of the arrangement or other sensitive information about the company. And once an employee signs such an agreement, you may think that’s the last you’ll hear of it. But a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision shows that nothing […]
Employers have won a whopping 92% of disability discrimination cases that have gone to trial, according to a new American Bar Association study. Despite the impressive statistics, the Americans with Disabilities Act poses continuing risks for employers. The study did not take into account cases that settled before trial and the high cost of defending […]
HIV-positive individuals are covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act even if they don’t yet have any AIDS symptoms, according to a new U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The court’s reasoning could have broad consequences in the workplace because it may open the door to legal protection for employees whose conditions aren’t necessarily disabling, such as […]
When an employee who has been injured on the job wants to return to work, it can be beneficial to both you and the worker to consider a light-duty assignment. Light-duty positions can keep the employee productive and help reduce workers’ comp costs. But modifying job duties can also present logistical problems and create new […]
It’s a common situation. You send some employees to required continuing education courses after work. Others attend classes simply to learn more about your business or industry. Are the employees entitled to pay for the time they spend in class? Probably not, according to a recent U.S. Depart- ment of Labor opinion. But you might […]
A new publication from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health includes recommendations for limiting the negative effects of shift work. Among the strategies covered are scheduling heavy or demanding work when employees are most alert, avoiding quick shift changes and eliminating permanent night shifts. A free copy of the publication “Plain Language About […]
An employee with HIV who wrote on a disability benefits application that he was unable to perform his job can still sue for discrimination, according to a new court ruling. For several years, Wells Fargo Bank had accommodated Andrew Bell by allowing him to telecommute one day a week, but the bank later decided Bell […]