Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
"Why do we have substance abuse testing programs?" asks Dr. W. Smith Chandler. The answer is simple—they save money. Chandler, an SPHR and physician who is board-certified in occupational medicine, has helped many employers develop substance abuse programs. His comments came during a recent audio conference sponsored by BLR®. How Do Substance Abuse Programs Save […]
It has now been almost a year since health care reform was first enacted. The first year involved many compliance challenges, not the least of which was keeping up with the many pieces of guidance issued by DOL, IRS and HHS. Plans had to expand coverage (more dependents, fewer dollar limits, no more questions about […]
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is signaling employers that the agency is expanding its focus on emerging employment issues. And given the drastic change taking place in today’s workplace, the new priorities aren’t surprising, according to an attorney well-versed on the “gig economy” and other challenging employment issues. The EEOC recently announced its updated […]
As more and more employers get slapped with wage and hour lawsuits that often challenge exempt classification, it’s becoming critical for employers to take a close look at their own operations and policies to determine what they can do to keep from becoming the next target. Below are some audit tips from attorney Kurt A. […]
DOL is heading your way with $25 Million for increased enforcement and they expect to generate—from your company and others—$7 Billion of additional revenue over the next 10 years. To avoid getting ensnared in this web of increased enforcement, the solution is simple say attorneys Veronica Gray & E. George Joseph—audit, audit, audit. Gray and […]
Note that the questions and responses that deal specifically with training are underlined. What’s the best way to get workers to be safer at work? 74% Training, training, training 11% Safety incentives 9% Discipline 6% Something else Should willfull, repeat OSHA violators be allowed removal from the Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP) log? 68% No […]
by Susan G. Fentin Massachusetts is set to soon have the highest minimum wage in the country. On June 26, Governor Deval Patrick signed a bill that will raise the state’s minimum wage from $8 per hour to $11 an hour by 2017, the highest statewide minimum wage in the country and a full 50 […]
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has published a notice of proposed rulemaking and an interpretive bulletin meant to guide states as they create Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)-compliant programs that help more workers save for retirement.
You may have been worried about pandemic flu and what you can do to prevent it in your facility. But what may be most contagious in your workplace may be something that actually is incubating there—depression. Stress-filled work atmospheres or workplaces with negative vibes from bullying bosses can lead to depression that spreads across the […]
By Steve Jones, JD, Jack Nelson Jones & Bryant, P.A The U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals—which covers Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota—recently reversed a district court’s decision that an employee wasn’t exempt from overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) because her primary duties weren’t related to […]