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Retailers and Hospitality Employers Face Steeper Reform Cost Increases

Health reform’s requirement that employers insure work forces will hit the retail and hospitality industries harder than others, because they are staffed with more low-wage and part-time workers, consulting firm Mercer LLC reported on Aug. 8. Forty-six percent of surveyed firms in the retail and hospitality sectors predicted health care cost increases of at least […]

Park, Play, Eat

By Elaine Quayle Did you ever think you’d equate your company parking lot with its wellness program? Think again. Parking lots have morphed into multitasking facilities. Companies across the country are looking at parking lots in a positive new light—for cultural and social impact—to create opportunities for exercise, fun, and recreation, according to MIT Professor […]

Employee Misconduct: High Court Says Public Employers Can Punish Workers Who Lie In Investigations; How New Ruling Could Affect You

When employees are accused of misconduct, their first instinct may be to say they didn’t do it. But under a new U.S. Supreme Court ruling, public employer scan impose additional punishment on workers who deny an accusationthat later proves to be true. This seemingly straightforward decisioncould have some unexpected consequences, however, as employers may find […]

Severance Programs: ERISA Traps For The Unwary

Your voluntary separation incentive plan may involve even more paperwork and expenses than you think. According to a new federal government opinion, severance programs that aren’t directly linked to retirement can still be considered pension plans covered by detailed ERISA compliance requirements. 400+ pages of state-specific, easy-read reference materials at your fingertips—fully updated! Check out […]

Colorado’s new use-it-or-lose-it vacation policy sparks questions

The Colorado Division of Labor has taken a new position on enforcing wage claims based on an employer’s vacation policy, and the position is leaving employers with questions about whether use-it-or-lose-it vacation policies are lawful in the state. In response to inquiries about whether policies that prohibit employees from rolling over some or all earned […]

Do Your Excess Hours and Overtime Averaging Permits Need to Be Renewed?

by Martin Denyes As Ontario employers reduce their workforces and potentially look to smaller numbers of remaining employees to take on increasing workloads, February is the time to review existing excess hours agreements and permits and overtime averaging agreements and permits. Legislation requiring permits and agreements for hours in excess of 48 in a week […]

Whistleblower Complaints: OSHA Issues Final Rules for Whistleblower Complaints Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Law

In 2002, President Bush signed into law the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, designed to deter corporate corruption and protect employees who blow the whistle on corporate transgressions. Now the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the agency designated to handle whistleblower complaints under the act, has released final rules regarding the complaint filing and investigation process. […]

Republican landslide alters legislative, regulatory landscape in 2015 and beyond

by Burton J. Fishman The sweeping Republican victory in the midterm election promises to have a significant impact on employment legislation and regulations in the next two years. Because of the number of Republican governors and Republican-dominated state legislatures now in place across the country, the most immediate impact may be at the state level […]

Recognize those who made your company what it is today

by Dan Oswald This past Memorial Day, a day reserved to remember and honor those who have died in service of the United States of America, my youngest child graduated from high school. So this Memorial Day also became a day to honor and celebrate his accomplishments. This all got me thinking a bit about […]