Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
A recent development serves as an alert for all employers contemplating a large-scale lay-off without prior notice. The Connecticut Attorney General is suing Walker Digital, owned by Priceline founder Jay Walker, charging that the company violated the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act (WARN) when it let 106 workers go without adequate notice in November. […]
A single offensive comment by a co-worker typically isn’t enough to leave you paying out a costly judgment for a hostile work environment suit. But as a recent case demonstrates, when a supervisor who has been abusive makes the remark, the result may be different.
A part of the massive health care reform law aimed at encouraging employers to offer health insurance to early retirees is set to launch June 1. Regulations for the Early Retirement Reinsurance Program were issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on May 4. The program will provide $5 billion for […]
A federal judge has ordered Southern California Maid Services and Carpet Cleaning, based in Gardena, to pay $3,467,789 in back wages, plus $1,058,973 in liquidated damages, to 385 current and former low-wage domestic workers who were misclassified as independent contractors. The court’s action resolves a lawsuit filed against the employer by the U.S. Department of […]
In light of current events, including the unrest in the Middle East and the recent terrorist plot uncovered in London, it’s wise to take a close look at what you can do to ensure the safe passage of employees who are required to travel abroad as part of their jobs. Here are three tips: Check […]
Yesterday, we looked at the large margin by which employees underestimate the amount it costs you to provide them with various benefits. Today, we’ll look at the one benefit employees refuse to give up — at nearly any cost.
We reported in April on a federal court decision from Kentucky involving IBM which held that under federal law, if you’re seriously considering changes to a retirement benefit plan, you must tell your employees. Now, in a pair of new cases, the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal has reached the same conclusion, explaining that […]
Caribou Coffee, a Minnesota-based coffee shop chain, has been slapped with a class action lawsuit charging that the company violated state labor laws, similar to California’s, that bar management from sharing in customer tips left for employees. The lawsuit was filed close on the heels of a California court’s ruling in March 2008 that Starbucks […]
Seattle’s new law requiring paid sick and safe time leave is set to take effect September 1, and the Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR) has published final rules defining some of the responsibilities of employers that have employees working in Seattle. Read Seattle’s new sick and safe time rules The law means that employees […]
This content was originally published in April 2009. For the latest FMLA regulation changes, visit our FMLA article archives or try our practical FMLA compliance guide. An Indiana worker repeatedly exceeded her employer’s absence limit, failed to follow safety procedures, and neglected the quality control part of her job, allowing an expensive production error to […]