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Background Checks: Important New Credit Report Rules; Plus A 6-Point Compliance Guide

Credit reports can be a useful tool for screening job applicants, but using them recently became more complex. That’s because of several important changes to the federal Consumer Credit Reporting Reform Act that are effective September 30, 1997. If you violate these provisions or a similar state law, you can be sued for steep penalties, […]

NAFE Announces Top Companies for Executive Women

In a recent press release, the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) named its Top 70 Companies and 10 Nonprofits for Executive Women. “While there are still too few women at the top of our nation’s corporations, NAFE is proud to spotlight trailblazing companies that prepare, promote and push women to executive levels,” the release said.

High Court Ruling on ‘Stock-Drop’ Could Chase Company Shares out of 401(k)s

A brief from the U.S. Solicitor General recommending that the U.S. Supreme Court hear a “stock-drop” class-action case could make it the most important ERISA litigation of the High Court’s current term. Employee benefits attorneys watching the case’s progress say a High Court decision could deter employers from offering employer stock as a 401(k) plan […]

IRS to Rewrite ‘Minimum Value’ ACA Rules to Include Coverage for Hospitals, Doctors

The IRS is asking the public for input into a rule that will determine when an employer-sponsored health plan is offering “substantial coverage” of inpatient hospital and physician services. This will be part of new rules defining minimum value in employer-sponsored health coverage. Employer-sponsored coverage must meet two tests to comply with the employer mandate: […]

Hot List: Bestselling “Management and Leadership” Books on Amazon.com

Amazon.com updates its list of the bestselling books every hour. Here is a snapshot of what is hot right now, this Monday morning, May 26, in the “Management and Leadership” section of the “Business and Investing” category. 1. Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson. Fried and Hansson argue that plans are actually harmful, […]

Spotlight on Boomers: Boomers redefining retirement and flexibility

The face of aging in the United States is changing dramatically and rapidly, according to a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau. Today’s older Americans are very different from their predecessors, living longer, having lower rates of disability, achieving higher levels of education and less often living in poverty. And the baby boomers, the […]

Tennessee Senate OK’s ‘guns in parking lots’ bill

Legislation giving handgun carry permit holders the right to keep guns in their vehicles in public parking lots, including their employer’s parking lot, passed the Tennessee Senate Monday evening, 28-5. The bill, which will go to the House Civil Justice Subcommittee Wednesday afternoon, would give civil immunity to employers for deaths, injuries, or damage involving […]

Proposed rules on contractor ‘blacklisting’ order published

by Judith E. Kramer The controversial proposed “blacklisting” regulations implementing President Barack Obama’s Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order have been published in the May 28 edition of the Federal Register for notice and comment. The proposed regulations were issued by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council. The order, which the proposed regulations interpret, […]

Employee Handbooks: Are They Really Necessary?

Even though it isn’t a California or federal law requirement, many employers have an employee handbook or at least a few written company policies. Exactly where do those policies come from? The answer to that question is easy―the HR department. But where does HR get the policies that govern the company? The answer to that […]

What Are Businesses Doing to Control Travel and Relo Costs?

By Robert Brady CEO, Business and Legal Resources For years, BLR® has surveyed HR and benefits professionals to see what benefits they are actually offering. This year, we have expanded our survey program by conducting a series of brief, targeted benefits surveys. Today’s topics: Travel and Relocation Benefits. (Survey results are presented in a future […]