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Why You Need to Plan for the Succession of All Your Employees
Managers can be so busy at work sometimes that it’s almost inconceivable for them to think about anything beyond the present day or even hour. And, while many business leaders wisely set aside time to think about 1-year, 3-year, or 5-year plans, far too few spend time thinking about where their current workforces will be […]
Provincial labor force differences across Canada
by Brian P. Smeenk Canada is a diverse country. Its ten provinces and three territories are endowed with varying natural resources and have developed their own industrial infrastructures and labour markets. Nevertheless, education is always a major factor in the ability to find a job. So commences a very interesting, recently published study by Statistics […]
Most Retirees Leave Ex-employer’s Plan within 5 Years
The overwhelming majority of defined contribution plan participants at retirement age roll their retirement savings over from their employer’s plan to an individual retirement account within five years of leaving the company, according to new research by Vanguard. But most refrain from taking distributions for years afterward. This common decision has implications for the “to […]
Say what? Asking employees to take language classes
by Brad Cave Q: Will I be in violation of federal discrimination laws if I provide an “English as a second language” (ESL) employee English language training at the company’s expense? A Any possible discrimination charge under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 would be based on national origin. The Equal Employment […]
Accommodating Workers: Court Explains Responsibilities Of Employers And Disabled Employees To Work Together To Find New Job
Under changes to the state disability discrimination law that took effect January 1, you can be sued for failing to cooperate with a disabled employee to determine whether they need a reasonable accommodation and to explore available options. A new California Court of Appeal decision provides more detail on how you and the disabled employee […]
Reasonable Accommodations: New Case Says You May Have To Allow Telecommuting; Tips For Managing Accommodations
Suppose an accommodation you’ve provided for a disabled employee isn’t working out. How far must you go to find a new accommodation? And do you have to consider telecommuting as an alternative? A recent Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision zeroes in on these questions. And we’ll suggest ways to manage the accommodation process to […]
Workplace Safety: Suspect Arrested For Impersonating Cal/OSHA Inspector
A sting operation resulted in the arrest of a paroled felon for impersonating a Cal/OSHA inspector and victimizing employers in the Los Angeles County area. Mark Dwayne Jackson allegedly threatened to impose severe fines for non-existent safety violations unless the business owners agreed to a cash settlement. The suspect was arrested after accepting marked money […]
Survey Identifies Four Factors that Control Healthcare Cost Increases
A recent survey of 585 businesses identified major growth in companies offering high deductible healthcare plans, and noted four ways to restrain cost increases. Once upon a time, if you worked for a good company and you got sick, you went to any doctor, hospital, or pharmacy and handed them your health plan card. That […]
Employee Benefits: New IRS Rules Allow Employees Greater Flexibility In Changing Cafeteria Plan Elections
Under flexible benefit or cafeteria plans, once the plan year starts, employees are locked into their benefit elections and can’t make changes except in a few limited situations. But in a move that will be welcomed by employees, the IRS has recently announced rules that take effect immediately and greatly expand your employees’ ability to […]