Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
by John Phillips Here we go again. First, cooking queen Paula Deen. Now, NFL player Riley Cooper. The two situations are different, but both involve use of the N-word. For Deen, the question was whether, at some point in the past, her use of the N-word and her consideration of having black employees dress up […]
Over the weekend, I watched a movie with my wife. I won’t say which movie because my guy friends will make fun of me. But in my defense, this past weekend included Valentine’s Day. Anyway, the movie talked a lot about fate and destiny and got me thinking about how much of what happens to […]
To fill in the knowledge gaps on how many individuals enrolled in the COBRA premium subsidy program — data that will be helpful in determining the program’s cost-effectiveness, who best benefited from the subsidy and how to target similar programs — the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) plans to sponsor a study sometime in 2012. […]
California noncompete agreements are basically void. California’s legislature routinely passes its own version of federal laws, often with crucial differences that can trip up multistate employers. Noncompete agreements are one such topic. While most states do not give employees protection (or only do so by limiting the scope of these agreements), they’re generally not allowed […]
Age bias lawsuits are frequently hitting the headlines these days, oftentimes with big numbers attached. For example, Austrian Airlines has just agreed to pay $500,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) accusing the airline of age discrimination against former sales director William Thoman, age 51. The agency charged […]
Implants — spinal fusion; as well as hip, knee and shoulder replacements — have emerged as major price problems today. Costs are up and so is utilization, which explains the cost surge health plans are undergoing for these procedures, according to three attorneys from The Phia Group in Braintree, Mass., who spoke in a Jan. […]
Four groups — the ERISA Industry Committee, the American Benefits Council, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable — filed an amicus brief July 26 to urge 2nd Circuit judges to support the principle of deference to plan administrators’ decisions over benefit plans. When plans reserve discretionary authority in plan documents, courts must […]
Federal and state governments require multiple notices to employees, but do they also require them in foreign languages for non-English-speaking workers? The short answer … maybe. You probably know that with the recent increase in the minimum wage, you had to tear down the old required poster and replace it with a new one. Of […]
I’m embarrassed to say that my company does not have an employee handbook of any kind, and I think it’s high time we got one together. Any tips for us? — HR Professional in Orange County
Just My E-pinionBy Eileen McDargh, CSP, CPAE Things getting a little desperate these days? Be careful that you don’t do something you’ll regret, says guest columnist Eileen McDargh, a professional speaker and business consultant on change management, life balance, and leadership development. Here are her top five management mistakes (plus a bonus). Mistake #1: Become […]