Most Popular

Wage And Hour: Ninth Circuit Examines When You Have To Pay Workers For Donning And Doffing Protective Gear

Production line employees at the IBP Inc. meat processing plant in Pasco, Washington, are required to be at their workstations as the first piece of meat comes down the line. Before taking their positions, the employees must prepare their work tools and change into protective gear, such as sanitary aprons, metalmesh leggings, Kevlar gloves, and […]

Voting: Do I Have to Let Employees Off Early to Vote?

Several of our workers have been talking about voting in the California presidential primary election on February 5. I’m wondering how this will affect the workday—do I have to let them off early to vote? — Anonymous The HR Management & Compliance Report: How To Comply with California Wage & Hour Law, explains everything you […]

Medicaid Expansion Could Improve Access to Behavioral Health Services, HHS Says

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released a report showing that states can improve access to behavioral health services for residents by expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. “Substance use disorders and mental illness are prevalent and serious public health problems in American communities,” the HHS says in a press […]

Sexual Harassment: Favoritism Toward Paramours Doesn’t Support Discrimination Lawsuit by Other Female Workers

An employee discovers her boss is having a sexual relationship with a co-worker. Then, when the co-worker gets favorable treatment, including questionable promotions, the employee comes after you, charging that the boss’s favoritism amounted to sex discrimination and created a hostile work environment. Open-and-shut case for the employee? Maybe not, according to a new decision.

Wal-Mart in the Hot Seat for Internal Memo on Health Care Savings

Wal-Mart’s executive vice president of benefits recently drafted a memo to the board of directors proposing ways for the company to save on health care costs by attracting a “healthier, more productive workforce.” Among other things, the memo suggested that all jobs at Wal-Mart be redefined to include some level of physical activity–such as requiring […]

Asian Harassment Based on African American Racial Slurs

The New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR) recently issued a probable-cause finding against an employer and its owner. The owner admittedly used the “n” word in the presence of an Asian employee who has a biracial child and a black fiance. Facts In February 2008, Shi-Juan Lin started working as a bookkeeper and secretary […]

OSHA Administrator, Employers Group Spar Over Proposed Changes to OSH Act

A proposal to increase Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) penalties now being considered by Congress will not result in any actual improvements in workplace safety and health, a representative of a coalition of employer groups testified on Tuesday, July 13, before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Education and Labor. Jonathan Snare […]

Black History Month: Statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau

To commemorate and celebrate the contributions to our nation made by people of African descent, American historian Carter G. Woodson established Black History Week. The first celebration occurred on Feb. 12, 1926. For many years, the second week of February was set aside for this celebration to coincide with the birthdays of abolitionist/editor Frederick Douglass […]

Pinpoint Compensation Problems Before They Turn into Lawsuits

Special from Atlanta—SHRM Annual Conference and Exhibition Regular audits of compensation practices are critical, says Payscale, Inc.’s Stacey Carroll, M.B.A., CCP, SPHR. You may find ways to save the company vast amounts of money, and the data you need to do it are already on hand. Check compa-ratios, check external equity, see who’s over the […]