Most Popular

What’s at Stake When You’re Accused of Harassment

Yesterday, we looked at the first 5 of Lyne Richardson and Jolina Abrena’s tips for minimizing potential liability for discrimination and harassment at your workplace. Today, the rest of the top 10, plus an introduction to a streamlined, yet comprehensive, A.B. 1825 training resource.

Experts Explain Top 5 COBRA Implications of Reform’s Summary of Benefits and Coverage

One simple line requiring that group health plans and insurers describe “continuation of coverage provisions” in summaries of benefits and coverage (SBCs) actually raises several complex issues for COBRA administrators. The health care reform law requires that group health plans and insurers accurately describe in SBCs the benefits and coverage under the applicable plan or […]

Reap the Benefits of an Employee Benefits Survey

Unless you know what other companies like yours pay in benefits, you truly don’t know what to pay. Research like BLR’ s 2007 Survey of Employee Benefits will tell you. A recent Daily Advisor noted the cost of paid time off to business had risen to equal that of healthcare, and that each of these […]

Hair Do = Don’t When Employee Violates Socmed Policy

A television meteorologist who took to social media to defend a comment on her hairstyle ended up trying to defend herself from termination for violation of the station’s social media policy. Or was it just “guidance”? According to media reports, the weatherperson for KTBX in Shreveport, Louisiana, who is a black woman, responded, albeit in […]

Gender Discrimination Lawsuits: Essentials to Avoid Them

In yesterday’s Advisor, we looked at definitions of many common terms in the confusing world of gender discrimination. Today, some tips for avoiding the lawsuits that come in all these varieties. There’s bad news on the gender discrimination front for employers: When cases do go before a jury, judgments have skyrocketed. For example, in 1991 […]

States approve minimum wage, paid leave ballot questions

States with employment-related ballot questions mostly approved them during the November 8 election, and employers have little lead time before many measures will be implemented. All told, 14 states have new provisions with which companies must comply, some as early as January 1, 2017. Minimum wage Arizona, Colorado, Maine, and Washington considered minimum wage increases […]

Most CFOs Say Minimum Wage Increases Would Cause Them to Reduce Current Workforce

The latest Duke University/CFO Global Business Outlook survey concerned the minimum wage, with nearly 75% of minimum-wage paying firms in the United States saying they would reduce current or future employment if the minimum wage is raised to $15 per hour. At a $15 minimum wage, 41% would lay off current employees, while 66% would slow future hiring. […]

20-Year Sexual Harassment Report Card: Mixed Bag for Employers

Lawsuits are down, but judgments are up. Training is the answer. This fall marks 20 years since the term “sexual harassment” entered the American lexicon in a big way. Americans came to know it through the testimony of Anita Hill, as she complained about alleged unwelcome advances from her ex-boss, now-Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, […]

House Health Reform Bill’s Impact on Employers

Update Dec. 16: COBRA Subsidy Extension Provisions Likely to Be Enacted As Part of DOD Appropriations Act By Ashley Gillihan and John Hickman Last week Nancy Pelosi (D-California), the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, released a 1,990-page health care reform bill called the Affordable Health Care for America Act. The bill is a […]

No Nonsense Retention: Open Door 80% of the Time

In yesterday’s Advisor, consultant Jeff Cortes said, “Fire the slugs.” Today, more of his timely retention and engagement tips, plus an introduction to the all-in-one HR website, HR.BLR.com. 6. Keep Your Door Open 80% of the Time [Go here for retention tips 1-5.] Let your people know you are accessible to them, says Cortes, author […]