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by Kevin C. McCormick Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley has signed a bill that prohibits discrimination against transgender citizens in employment, housing, credit, and public accommodations. The Fairness for All Marylanders Act, which was passed by the legislature on March 27 and signed into law on May 15, adds “gender identity” to the Maryland laws that […]
The FMLA is one of the most complex of labor laws, and it soon may become even more so. Here’s a tool for making compliance easier, and to keep up with the changes. Question: Where can a person be classified as a parent without actually being a parent? Answer: In the Family and Medical Leave […]
An insurer won recovery of health expenses paid from a member’s $255,000 settlement after said member refused to reimburse the insurer for medical payments it made. It did so in spite of an affidavit from the company plan administrator saying the insurer was not authorized to collect the funds from the member’s settlement proceeds. It […]
A federal district court judge on Aug. 12 dismissed a suit by current and former employees of a Maryland construction company who alleged that the company failed to comply with ERISA disclosure requirements and to provide retirement plan documents upon request because the Spanish-speaking plaintiffs couldn’t understand the English documents. ERISA requires that plan sponsors […]
To say that Apple has loyal customers is an understatement. Not many companies can draw crowds to line up for new product releases. Apple even secured the number 2 spot in Interbrand’s Best Global Brands 2012 list, second only to Coca-Cola®. With such a strong brand presence, it’s no surprise to see the results of […]
by Peter D. Lowe On Tuesday, 53 percent of Mainers voted to allow same-sex marriage. Question 1, which asked “Do you want to allow the State of Maine to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples,” was an indirect initiative. That means that because supporters collected the required number of signatures by January 2012 and the […]
HR managers get blindsided often enough, but that shouldn’t happen with retaliation claims, says attorney Judith A. Moldover, because you can see them coming. Who feels good about someone complaining about them? No one, so it’s simply human nature to retaliate, says attorney Judith Muldover of the New York City law firm of Ford and […]
The other day I was having a conversation with a friend and colleague — more friend than colleague. We were discussing the economy, business, and some of the challenges we’re experiencing at our company. As we wrapped up our conversation and I headed for the door, he asked me, “Are you all right?” His question […]
As a California employer, you’re already well-acquainted with the high costs associated with workplace injuries.
By Kate McGovern Tornone, Editor Employers in California are ahead of the national average when it comes to paid family leave policies, according to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Nationwide, 18% of employers offer that benefit; in California, 35% of employers do, according to recently-released state survey results.