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News Notes: New ADA Ruling Protects Seniority Systems

Last year, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal ruled that, in most cases, an employer doesn’t have to make an exception to an established seniority system to provide an accommodation to a disabled worker. Now, the same court has clarified its original ruling, going even farther in protecting seniority policies. The case involved a disabled […]

Parts of Alabama Immigration Law Blocked — At Least Temporarily

Alabama employers may see some relief in a federal judge’s opinion on the state’s tough new immigration law even though most of the law was allowed to stand. Chief U.S. District Judge Sharon Lovelace Blackburn ruled on September 28 that key parts of House Bill 56, which was signed into law June 9, can take […]

Computer Firm Enters $2.65 Million H-1B Wage Settlement

Computech, Inc., a Michigan-based firm that places computer professionals at workplaces throughout the U.S., has agreed to pay $2,250,000 in back wages and a $400,000 fine to settle charges levied by the Department of Labor that the company violated immigration law. The settlement proceeds will be shared by 232 computer professionals.

Family Responsibilities Leave—Best Practice for Employee Engagement?

By BLR Founder and CEO Bob Brady Just My E-pinion For years, BLR has surveyed HR and benefits professionals to find trends in benefits. We appreciate your participation in our monthly series of brief, targeted benefits surveys. Today’s Survey Topic: Family Leave Practices. (We’ll publish the results in a future issue.) Family responsibility leave. It’s […]

EEOC Receives Record Number of Discrimination Complaints

Employees filed a record number of discrimination charges with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission this year, according to a report released by the enforcement agency. The 99,947 charges received account for all claims of discrimination based on race, sex, national origin, religion, age and disability, as well as claims filed under the Equal Pay […]

Pension Plans: You Can Be Sued If Your Plan’s Insurer Goes Broke; 4 Tips For Making The Right Decisions

When RJR Nabisco decided to terminate an overfunded pension program, it purchased an annuity from an insurance company to cover its obligations to beneficiaries and plan participants. RJR then sold the pension fund’s assets, netting RJR more than $43 million. But the insurance company it chose to issue the annuity, Executive Life Insurance Company of […]

News Notes: Employers Not Strictly Liable For Supervisor Sexual Harassment

When Leslie Kohler sued under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act claiming that her supervisor at Inter-Tel Technologies sexually harassed her, Inter-Tel said it wasn’t liable because it had taken reasonable steps to prevent harassment and Kohler had unreasonably failed to take advantage of the employer’s corrective opportunities by failing to report the incidents. Kohler […]

News Bulletin: Government Hunting Down Late Form 5500 Filers

The federal Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service have announced that they’re tracking down delinquent filers of Form 5500, which is required to be filed annually for benefit plans. And in December 2002, the agencies plan to begin sending out letters of inquiry to delinquent filers. Penalties for late filing can be steep, […]

News Bulletin: Workplace Posters Available Online

The California Department of Industrial Relations has made it easier for you to keep your required workplace postings up-to-date. Just go to CDIR website, where, with just a few clicks, you can place an order for up to five copies of any poster you need, and it’s all free.