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N.Y. Legalizes Same-sex Marriage

New York State will become the sixth state where same-sex marriage is legal on July 24. Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) on June 24 signed the Marriage Equality Act (MEA) into law. Same-sex marriage already is legal in Massachusetts, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut and the District of Columbia. The measure goes into effect one month […]

Employers Warned of New Misclassification Dangers (video)

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is focusing “an enormous amount of attention” on misclassifying workers as exempt, non-exempt, and independent contractors and is throwing significant resources at the problem, according to attorney Susan G. Fentin, who spoke at the recent Advanced Employment Issues Symposium in Nashville, Tennessee. Plus, the DOL and the IRS are […]

Bulletin Item: PWBA Undergoes Name Change

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration has changed its name to the Employee Benefits Security Administration, or EBSA. The EBSA will assume the former PWBA’s responsibilities of administering private-sector retirement, health, and other employer-based benefit programs. Visit the EBSA’s website.

Holidays PTO Survey: Personal Leave Allowed

Personal Leave Days: What is the number of paid personal leave days granted by your organization per year (exclude paid holidays)?   None 1 day 2 days 3 days 4 days 5+ days Exempt Employees 535 (65.1%) 34 (4.1%) 50 (6.1%) 47 (5.7%) 17 (2.1%) 128 (15.6%) Nonexempt Employees 537 (65.3%) 34 (4.1%) 51 (6.2%) […]

Ninth Circuit Rules on Gender-Based Grooming Standards

Last year, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers California, ruled in favor of an employer that was accused of sex discrimination for requiring female employees only to wear makeup on the job (see the Feb. 2005 issue of the California Employer Advisor). The Ninth Circuit subsequently agreed to have […]

Coming ALIVE: A Treatment Plan for Employee Engagement

By Ruth Ross Today’s workplaces are drowning in a sea of disengagement. It’s easier to find a needle in a haystack then to find an employee who is highly engaged and passionate about their work. You may not even be aware of just how bad the situation is because disengagement is mostly a silent disease.

The ROI of Diversity Initiatives: The Challenges of Metrics

 By Dr. Edward E. Hubbard There’s a fair amount of buzz around diversity measurement and analytics. Advances in software, newly-available data sources, and how-to manuals have made it easier gain access to diversity measures. Although interest in measuring the effects of diversity has been growing, the topic still challenges even the most sophisticated and progressive […]

Reasonable Accommodations: Court Says Restructuring Job May Not Be Enough; 3 Steps To Take To Prevent Getting Sued

One of your employees has a bad back and needs their duties to be modified to allow them to continue to do their job. You make some changes, but the person’s performance deteriorates. As a new California Court of Appeal case makes clear, it’s important to stay proactive by closely monitoring the situation and, if […]