Most Popular

WA County Will Pay $215,000 to Quell HIPAA Allegations

A county government in Washington state agreed to pay $215,000 in a settlement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, after its report of a minor breach led to an HHS investigation that found “general and widespread noncompliance” with HIPAA privacy and security rules. The incident originally reported by Skagit County, Wash., in […]

change

Business Readiness—The New Mindset for Thriving in Changing Times

By Kelli Hinshaw, vice president, Strategic Development, Reality-Based Leadership Change management is a topic that’s been studied for over 30 years, and organizations are spending more time and resources than ever to train employees to better endure change. Conventional change management wisdom often promotes ways to “make change easier” for employees so it sticks.  Leaders […]

Solis, Ledbetter Promote Paycheck Fairness Act in DOL Webcast

This morning, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis hosted a live webcast promoting the passage of and fielding audience questions about the Paycheck Fairness Act (PFA). The webcast, which featured Lilly Ledbetter as cohost, emphasized the current administration’s efforts to eliminate wage discrimination while promoting wage transparency in the workplace, noting that passage of the PFA […]

Getting past campaign strife: HR can help heal rifts

by Tammy Binford Finally, it’s over. With the passing of Election Day, campaign ads have died down but emotions can still run high. If coworkers have engaged in heated political discussions at work, those passions can be counterproductive to the mission of the business. So the question for HR is “What now?” What can HR […]

OSHA’s Injury and Illness Prevention Program (I2P2) Idea: Many States Have Been There, Done That

Guest Post by: David Galt Senior Legal Editor Business & Legal Resources, Inc. There’s been a lot of discussion and concern voiced about OSHA’s proposal to require many businesses to create a formal injury and illness prevention program. Perhaps it would be a good idea to look at the states that already require certain businesses […]

Q&A Session: Using Social Media in the Workplace

Using social media in the workplace without causing legal headaches can be complex. But the simple fact that social media is entwined in our lives makes it hard to escape. There are many benefits to be had, but also many risks. How can employers strike a balance? "Social media – like LinkedIn, Facebook, and all […]

As Obama term winds down, employers adjust to changes and brace for future

Employers may be reeling from what they see as swift and dramatic changes related to employment regulation. In recent months, they’ve found themselves dealing with new rules on union representation elections, an impending expansion of who is eligible for overtime, a more restricted view of the use of independent contractors, as well as an array […]

Flawed COBRA/Leave Policy Still Leaves Employer With Unpaid Stop-loss Claims

An employer whose COBRA/leave policy did not align with a stop-loss policy’s terms continues to be on the hook for a COBRA qualified beneficiary’s medical claims that were rejected by the stop-loss insurer. The employer unsuccessfully appealed a lower court ruling that the claims were ineligible under the policy terms because they did not include […]

The 4 Most Common (and Costly) Wage/Hour Mistakes

By Stephen Bruce, PhD, PHR Just My E-pinion Wage and hour suits are getting technical, says attorney Laura Innes, and that’s all the more reason to focus in on your wage hour practices to be sure you’re acting within the law. In an exclusive interview with the HR Daily Advisor, Innes shared tips for the […]

Managing Workers With Mental Disabilities: ADA May Protect Anxiety-Ridden Employees Who Can’t Interact With Others; Practical Approaches To Take

How do you deal with an employee who’s disruptive and can’t get along with co-workers? The obvious answer may be a warning or other discipline. But the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal says employees like these may have a mental disability protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and that instead of disciplining […]