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How July 1 HIPAA Changes Affect Your Wellness Program

It’s obvious the government loves workplace wellness programs. That’s why the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has exceptions that allow them. But those exceptions have just changed. Here’s how: When laws change, the traditional dates for making those changes are January 1 and July 1. Such was the case recently as the U.S. […]

Fines for Non-Compliance Add Up Fast in California

Penalties for noncompliance with California wage and hour laws can add up surprisingly fast, says attorney Christopher C. Hoffman. And it’s surprisingly easy to run afoul of California‘s many tricky requirements. (See yesterday’s CED to read Hoffman’s tips on rest periods and meal breaks in California.)

News Notes: OSHA 200 Log Reminder

For the entire month of February each year, most public and private employers are required to post an OSHA 200 Log in a conspicuous place. This “Log and Summary of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses” calls for details about on-the-job injuries and illnesses that occurred between January 1 and December 31 of the preceding year. Unless […]

Can You ‘Bribe’ Employees Not to Smoke?

Yesterday’s Advisor talked about smoking bans. Today we’ll discuss antismoking “bribes”—more politely, incentives–and a guide that has helped thousands of companies to develop wellness programs of their own. Under federal law, employers may establish employee health assessment and promotion programs as long as the programs meet the following requirements: Employee participation is voluntary; Information obtained […]

Penalties for Employers Who Ignore New Health Care Requirements

In yesterday’s Advisor, We covered Michael Aitken’s suggestions for the employee side of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Today, employer responsibilities under the act, plus an introduction to a unique product aimed specifically at the smaller HR department. Aitken’s comments came during the Society for Human Resource Management’s (SHRM) recent annual Conference […]

Go Undercover to Find Out What’s Really Happening in HR

In yesterday’s Advisor, we introduced the Undercover HR Boss. Today, more of what we think you’ll find if you go undercover, plus an introduction to the extraordinary one-stop website, HR.BLR.com. ‘Punch out and then finish up, OK?’ Wage/hour management seems easy but it often is not. As one expert says, “No company is 100 percent […]

Background Checks: New Consumer Report Rules In Effect Now; What’s Changed

Last year, Gov. Davis signed into law some controversial state consumer report rules. And now the governor has signed two new laws, A.B. 1068 and A.B. 2868, that revise the complicated consumer reporting process. The changes have taken effect immediately—and impact how you conduct workplace investigations, background checks and reference checks. Internal Background Check Rules RepealedUnder […]