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When this CEO Says ‘No Bonuses,’ You Can Believe It

When this “CEO” says something, you can believe it! Citing the world’s poor economy, this administrator says he is out to cut expenses, and he is starting at the home office. Yes, numerous media report that newly elected Pope Francis has instructed that there be no bonuses given to staff to honor his election. Instead […]

DOL Collected $166 Million for Employees in 2005

Last year, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division collected $166 million in back wages on behalf of 241,000 employees for employer violations of laws enforced by the division. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the federal wage-and- hour law, the division recovered a total of $134.2 million, including $119.4 million for […]

PBGC Now Requires Electronic Filings

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)—the federal agency that insures pension benefits for millions of Americans—has published a final rule requiring sponsors of defined benefit pension plans to electronically file their annual premium declarations. Effective July 1, large plan sponsors (those with 500 or more participants) must file premiums electronically for plan years beginning on […]

Criticism in store for Obama’s choice for DOL

President Barack Obama’s choice of Thomas E. Perez for secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor is likely to face tough questions during the process of confirmation by the Senate. If confirmed, Perez will replace Hilda L. Solis, who stepped down as labor secretary in January after serving in the post four years. Foes of […]

Workplace Fatalities Drop in California

Over the past several years, the number of workplace fatalities in California has been on a steady decline, and 2004 was no exception. The Division of Labor Statistics and Research has released data showing that last year, 416 of California’s 17,552,000 workers were fatally injured on the job, down from 456 out of 16,283,000 workers […]

How Can I Avoid Suits Related to Hiring Practices?

In yesterday’s Advisor, attorney Allison West offered tips for avoiding defamation and fraud lawsuits. Today, her tips on recruiting, plus an introduction to a unique, web-based, turnkey employee training system. West, principal of Employment Practices Specialists in Pacifica, CA, gave her advice at SHRM’s Employment Law and Legislative Conference, held recently in Washington, DC. Here […]

More Ways to Communicate Culture During Recruiting

In yesterday’s post, we noted the fact that trying to assess whether a candidate will be a good cultural fit for the organization is both difficult and important. Sometimes finding the right fit is even more important than finding the right skill set. We also noted that this assessment goes both ways—while the employer is assessing […]

News Notes: NCL Issues Five Worst Teen Jobs For 2002

The National Consumers League has released its list of Five Worst Teen Jobs for 2002. According to Darlene Adkins, NCL’s vice president for labor policy, “many teens are working in unsafe conditions without the proper training or supervision. Too many are injured or killed on the job because they were performing tasks prohibited by federal […]

Diversity: The Ends Don’t Necessarily Justify the Means; How Two Important New Supreme Court Rulings Affect Employers

Regardless of whether your workplace has a formal diversity policy, it’s often hard to determine how and when race can be used as a criterion for hiring decisions. Two major new U.S. Supreme Court decisions offer some guidance. Although the cases deal with university admissions rather than workplace hiring, the court set out standards for […]

Violent Employees: Risk Assessment Checklist

It’s important to understand the warning signs that a worker might be headed for violent behavior. Here’s a list of stress factors, cues, and signals that many psychologists believe may indicate potential for violent behavior in the workplace. Of course, just how significant any of these factors may be will depend on your situation: