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IRS Eases Health FSA ‘Use-it-or-Lose-it’ Rule

Employers now have the option of allowing plan participants to roll over up to $500 in unused FSA funds at the end of each plan year, under a new regulatory interpretation on health flexible spending accounts, the U.S. Treasury Department and IRS announced Oct. 31. Employers are free to change their plan designs accordingly for […]

HOT LIST: BusinessWeek’s Bestseller List

BusinessWeek ranks business books that are the most recent bestsellers and provides a short summary. 1. StrengthsFinder 2.0: A New and Upgraded Edition of the Online Test from Gallup’s Now, Discover Your Strengths by Tom Rath. Are you unsure where your true talents lie? Do you feel that you are both a person who gets […]

Workplace Investigations: New Law Clears Way For Employers To Use Outside Investigators; What You Need To Know

For several years, employers have struggled with whether they have to comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act’s (FCRA) detailed notice and disclosure rules when they use outside experts to investigate employee misconduct, such as harassment. The uncertainty stemmed from a now infamous opinion letter from the Fair Trade Commission that stated reports prepared by […]

Federal Contractors Required to Use E-Verify Starting September 8

Beginning Sept. 8, 2009, federal contractors and subcontractors will be required to use the E-Verify system to ensure their employees are legally authorized to work in the United States.The requirement is designed to stop federal contractors and subcontractors from hiring illegal immigrants. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced this week that the […]

The Truth About Hiring the Best

Employment law attorney Michael Maslanka reviews the book The Truth about Hiring the Best by Cathy Fyock. The review highlights a few of the book’s truths about hiring, interviewing, and dealing with employee relations. Looking to pick up the latest thinking on hiring? Pick up The Truth About Hiring the Best (Truth About), a quick […]

Disabled Workers: High Court Says Employees Can Make Inconsistent Statements About Disabilities; Impact On Employers

Can workers who swear to be totally disabled on an application for Social Security benefits turn around and sue you under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), contending they’re qualified to work despite their disability claim? Two recent court decisions – one from the United States Supreme Court and the other involving a Northern California […]

Keep the Reins on HR to Preserve Privilege

In yesterday’s Advisor, attorney James Boudreau warned about the "phantom class action." Today, we’ll get more of his tips, and we’ll take a look at a unique HR audit program that will help you to find potential legal problems before the lawyers—or the feds—do. Boudreau’s remarks came at a Littler Mendelson Employer Conference in New […]

How Festive! Company Says Have Your Wedding in the Workplace

Every girl dreams of her wedding, but not many dream of having it where they work. That is, unless you work for the Bank of Korea! Media report that the Bank’s headquarters even has a 200-seat auditorium as the venue, complete with a bride’s waiting room.  And the entire venture was designed and approved by […]

California Supreme Court Clarifies Termination Pay Statutes

The California Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that for purposes of Labor Code provisions requiring payment of wages immediately upon “discharge”—and imposing waiting time penalties for delays—the term “discharge” doesn’t just mean getting fired or laid off; it also includes when an employer releases an employee after completion of the specific job assignment or time […]