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CBO: Fewer employers would offer insurance under Obamacare replacement

On March 13, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its cost estimate of the effects of the proposed Affordable Care Act (ACA) repeal and replace legislation. Deficits down, but number of uninsured up According to the CBO and the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT): The legislation would reduce federal deficits by $337 billion from […]

Americans with Disabilities Act: EEOC Issues New Fact Sheet Explaining When Telecommuting Is a Reasonable Accommodation

Many employers have discovered that successful telework arrangements can provide high levels of flexibility and employee satisfaction. And, as a new fact sheet from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission points out, you may be required to consider telework as a reasonable accommodation for disabled employees. Modifying Telework Programs The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) […]

Karma in the C-Suite? Readers Respond

Does “what goes around come around”? BLR® CEO Dan Oswald shared his thoughts on the subject in a recent edition of The Oswald Letter. Many readers agreed with Oswald; others were concerned about his state of mind. Oswald’s original column concluded: “Don’t spend your time thinking about how unfair life is because some people seem […]

When Handing Out Severance Pay, Don’t Forget Employees on Leave

If an employer grants severance pay to laid-off employees, it must also pay those who were on leave for disabilities at the time of the layoff. A California auto plant failed to do so and has now agreed to pay into a $6 million settlement fund (along with Toyota) to settle an Americans With Disabilities Act […]

Workaholics Anonymous: Relax and Recover from Burnout

HR executives and many senior leaders recognize that working significant overtime hours regularly can cause employee stress and burnout, negatively impact an employee’s personal life, and frankly, is just plain unhealthy. An internet site now addresses the problems: www.workaholics-anonymous.org. According to a statement on their site, “Workaholics Anonymous is a fellowship of individuals who share […]

New HHS website provides tips for accommodating lactating employees

by Kate DeForest A lesser-known provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires employers that are covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to provide a private area for mothers to nurse or express breast milk during the workday. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is making the requirement known with […]

Terminations—Without Good Policies, a Lawsuit Jungle

Terminations—where the rubber meets the road in HR. The most angst, the most tears (or screams), and the most lawsuits. Your terminations policy is critical. Today, courtesy of BLR’s SmartPolicies® program, we’ll review the key elements your policy should cover. Compensation, Benefits, and Financial Issues Severance pay. What are your guidelines (e.g., how many years […]

It’s firing time again

by Al Vreeland I report from the center of the Southeastern Conference (SEC)—where the arrival of winter means it’s firing time. Four of 14 SEC head football coaches have been sacked, and regardless of your tailgating preference, their terminations provide lessons on how to gracefully handle the exit of your top executives. Penthouse to outhouse […]