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Quirkiest FMLA Rule Amended in New Regs

Everything going smoothly with the new FMLA regs? They are now officially a few weeks old, but many HR managers fear the hassles are just beginning. The Department of Labor (DOL) says the revisions were designed to clarify the requirements and to improve communication between employers and employees. To some extent, these goals may be […]

IRS Increases Tax Breaks for Adoption Assistance, LTC Insurance

Plan administrators and employers that offer adoption assistance and long-term care (LTC) insurance need to adjust their plans for 2012 to account for increased amounts that can be excluded from taxable income. The IRS issued the rates for use in 2012 in Revenue Procedure (Rev. Proc.) 2011-52. Adoption Tax Credit The tax credit under Code […]

Guess Whose Employees are Growing a Garden!

It sounds like a trick question. Guess whose employees are growing a garden? It just couldn’t be, but it is—the workers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)! Agency employees across the country are growing gardens and distributing the harvest to food banks and shelters. “USDA created the People’s Garden Initiative 3 years ago, and […]

Hot List: New York Times Bestselling Hardcover Business Books

The following is a list of the bestselling hardcover business books as ranked by the New York Times on February 8. 1. Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell. hy some people succeed — it has to do with luck and opportunities as well as talent — from the author of Blink: The Power […]

Save Time and Money: Avoid Bad Hires

In part one of this article, we noted that bad hires are costly—not only in monetary terms but also in employee morale and possibly productivity. Today, let’s take a look at some ways to avoid bad hires.

U.S. Senate Approves Several Amendments Dealing with Immigration Enforcement

By Hector A. Chichoni On Wednesday, July 8, 2009, the U.S. Senate approved several amendments dealing with immigration enforcement and benefits that were not included in the 2010 homeland security appropriations bill (H.R. 2892) passed previously by the House of Representatives. An amendment introduced by Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Ala) dealing with E-Verify was passed by […]

Your Chance to Have Your Employees Attitudes Surveyed is Here Again … Still at No Cost to You!

By BLR Founder and CEO Bob Brady Today, our CEO re-opens our no-cost employee survey program for signups, and reports how last year’s results differ from this year’s, at the nearly 2,500 companies that have taken part so far. Also, how you can join them—if you act by July 7, 2008. Readers of this column […]

Short Takes: Protected Characteristics of FEHA

What are considered protected characteristics under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act? 400+ pages of state-specific, easy-read reference materials at your fingertips—fully updated! Check out the Guide to Employment Law for California Employers and get up to speed on everything you need to know. The California Fair Employment and Housing Act prohibits employment practices […]