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3rd Circuit: For-profit Cannot Avoid Contraceptive Mandate Based on Religion Objections

For-profit, secular corporations cannot argue that they are exercising religious beliefs to avoid the contraceptive coverage mandate under health care reform, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled July 26. Such entities are “artificial beings” created to make money and cannot exercise religion,” which is an inherently “human” right,” the 3rd Circuit opined. Accordingly, […]

Economy Back-Burnering Compliance?

The economy is creating chaos, and the rapid changes in workplace laws don’t help—Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, changes in FMLA and COBRA, 1-9’s, E-Verify, ADAAA—the list goes on and on. Where should you be focusing? With all that is happening, it is easy to get distracted, even overwhelmed, says Kurt Ronn, the president and founder […]

Can Canadian Employers Fire Employees for Complaints about Management?

By Ian Campbell There seems to have been an increase in cases where employees in Canada directly or publicly have challenged their supervisors or senior management. Maybe this is because of an increasing belief in their actual or perceived rights. Of course employees have the right and should be encouraged to raise legitimate workplace concerns […]

Unions Create New Labor Federation to Rival AFL-CIO

In the September 2005 issue of the California Employer Advisor, we reported that several powerful unions had broken ties with the AFL-CIO, the nation’s main labor federation. Last week, the defecting unions formally founded a new AFL-CIO rival, called the Change to Win Federation. The new federation represents 5.4 million American workers and comprises the […]

Pension Plans’ Funded Status Slipped in February

Three monthly measures of defined benefit pension plans’ funded status slipped or remained flat in February after a strong start to 2013, due mostly to weakening interest rates. The Milliman 100 Pension Funding Index, which monitors funding for the U.S.’s largest corporate DB plans, posted a decrease in funded status for the month to 81.5 […]

Appeals Courts Issue Opposite Rulings on Health Care Reform Subsidies

Two appeals court rulings with differing views on the availability of premium subsidies for policies purchased through state-based health insurance exchanges establish a circuit split that sets the stage for the U.S. Supreme Court to step in. One court ruled that federal subsidies should be available only in states that run their own exchanges; another […]

Employment Law Tip: Direct Deposit—Don’t Force It

Direct payroll deposit can be a real timesaver for employers and employees alike. But did you know that California law prohibits employers from requiring employees to use direct deposit for their paychecks? Specifically, Labor Code Section 213 makes it clear that employers can use direct deposit, but only when the employee voluntarily authorizes it. Additional […]

High Court Defines ‘Charge’ in Age Discrimination

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on the definition of a “charge” of age discrimination under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). Under the ADEA, an employee is required to file a “charge” with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) before the dispute is escalated to court. But the term “charge” is not […]

New York minimum wage going up on December 31

The first of a series of increases intended to bring New York’s state minimum wage to $15 an hour is set to go into effect on December 31. As a result of a measure signed into law in April, the state will see minimum wage increases implemented on a regional basis. The state’s current basic […]