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While political wrangling over President Barack Obama’s newest Executive Order rages, employers need to understand the impact the immigration order will have on their workplaces. Obama announced what he’s calling the Immigration Accountability Executive Actions in an address November 20. A fact sheet from the White House says the order will “crack down on illegal […]
For the first time since 2009, the Social Security taxable wage base has increased: For 2012, it will be $110,100, up from $106,800. The Social Security Administration attributes this to the increase in average wages. In 2012, employers must withhold Social Security taxes on each employee’s first $110,100 of compensation. This means that the employer […]
Allstate Corp., the nation’s second-largest home and auto insurer, has agreed to pay out up to $120 million to settle claims that some of its white-collar employees in California were routinely required to work long hours without overtime pay. The settlement grew out of a class action lawsuit filed by insurance adjusters, alleging that Allstate […]
By Kate McGovern Tornone, Editor When an employee works overtime, an employer can’t ignore those hours. Even if an employee fails to report the hours, an employer may be liable for back pay and damages if it “should have known” the employee was working overtime, a recent case illustrates.
In yesterday’s Advisor, Dennis A. Davis, Ph.D., talked about dealing with workplace conflict. Today, we’ll get his take on reacting to anger and violence, and we’ll get a look at a unique program for the small—even one-person—HR department. Sometimes people think anger leads to violence, so they won’t let an angry person talk. But it’s […]
The start of a new year offers the opportunity to take stock, and to plan ahead. It’s anyone’s guess what 2016 will hold for human resources professionals, but looking back at the stories that drew the most interest from our reader community provides some useful insights on what to watch for in the new year. […]
A new survey finds pension benefits are a major factor for most workers in North America when deciding to accept a job. What’s more, interest in the benefits is widespread, regardless of age.
By Kyle Johnson, JD The 6th Circuit—which covers Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee—recently ruled that an employee who was allegedly laid off while she was on leave covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was entitled to a jury trial because the employer’s lack of written policies left unresolved questions about her status.
Employers struggling to decode the service provider fee disclosures from their retirement plans may be getting some relief. Nearly two years after the U.S. Department of Labor published a proposed rule requiring covered service providers to disclose the cost of what they do for employer-sponsored 401(k)s, the agency is requesting more help for plan sponsors […]
The current recession has taken its toll on the United States, and many Americans are still fighting to stay financially afloat. Consumer confidence is down. According to the American Bankruptcy Institute, consumer bankruptcies rose by 24 percent nationwide in August from the same period a year ago, and during the first six months of 2009, […]