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Arbitration Of Disputes: Recent Cases Offer Insight Into When Courts Will Enforce—Or Throw Out—Flawed Arbitration Agreements
When the California Supreme Court approved mandatory arbitration for employment disputes last year, one question left unanswered was how existing arbitration agreements that don’t meet all the standards the court set forth would be handled. The contrasting approaches taken in two recent Court of Appeal decisions provide some guidance as to how the line will […]
Vast Majority of Recruiters See Résumé Lies as Deal Breakers
A résumé is often the first impression a potential employer has of a candidate. Absent a referral or previous relationship, that piece of paper (or, increasingly, digital document) trying to list as many credentials and as much experience as possible is what will often make or break the applicant’s chance to move on to the […]
Employment Law Tip: Guidelines for First Aid in the Workplace
If an employee gets injured at work, are you prepared to deal with the situation? The types of first-aid materials you must maintain in the workplace will depend on the nature and extent of hazards present. And Cal-OSHA standards require a basic level of readiness.
Are Your Employees Helping Cut Costs?
Every business has to watch expenses carefully. A successful business needs employees who do their best to cut costs, avoid waste, and make do when they can’t afford better Many workers may think there’s not much they can do about costs—that these decisions are made in the accounting office. But that isn’t true. The company’s […]
DOL Gets Serious About Federal Contractor Compliance; Slaps Companies with $1M in Back Wages in November
Companies that violate the federal government contractor laws risk not just fines and citations from the U.S. Department of Labor, but also debarment that prevents them from bidding on any other federal contracts for a specified period. For a company that relies predominantly on federal contracts, or that was depending on a financial infusion from […]
IRS Issues Alternative Per Diems for 2013
Employers and plan administrators have more options now in choosing a way to reimburse the expenses their employees incur for lodging, meals and incidentals during business travel. The IRS in Notice 2012-63 issued per diem rates that are an alternative to the CONUS per diem rates the U.S. General Services Administration issues. The notice also […]
Discrimination: Huge Verdict for LA Firefighter
A jury in Los Angeles has returned a $6.2 million verdict to Brenda Lee, a former Los Angeles firefighter who claimed she was the victim of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation because she is African American and a lesbian. The award included $3.5 million in back and future wages and benefits, plus $2.5 million for emotional […]
Are your retirement plan’s fees excessive? Failed participant suits may inform plan sponsors
Federal courts on numerous occasions in the last two years have dismissed plan participant allegations that their employers charged excessive retirement plan fees. The rulings taken together say: If a plan is not enriching itself at participants’ expense — or operating with a conflict of interest in relation to its investment company — then it’s […]
Defined Contribution Plans: Socially Responsible Investment Options on the Rise
By 2010, 60 percent of defined contribution plans will offer a socially responsible investment (SRI) option, according to a study released this past summer by Mercer Investment Consulting, a global provider of HR and related financial advice and services, in conjunction with the Social Investment Forum, a nonprofit organization that promotes responsible investing. Nineteen percent […]