Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Payments by qualified retirement plans for accident or health insurance will be taxable distributions to participants in most cases, starting with the 2015 tax year, according to new IRS final regulations. Retirees are excluded from having to pay tax on plan payments for medical benefits, however. IRS on May 6 approved amendments to 26 C.F.R. […]
By Jilaine Parkes, president and founder of Sprigg Talent Management Systems Creating and agreeing on a team charter can set team projects up for success. This is an opportunity to ensure that everyone involved at the team (and senior management) level knows why the project needs to be carried out, understands what the objectives and […]
We have an exempt employee going out on FMLA for about 7 weeks. The employee currently has remote access and can work from home. Are we violating FMLA if we allow this exempt employee to have access to emails and his virtual desktop or should we get a doctor’s release that says the employee can […]
A total compensation statement is something many employers opt to provide to employees to quantify and communicate the monetary value of their full compensation package. Also known as a total rewards statement or a “hidden paycheck,” a total compensation statement would include base pay plus bonuses/incentives, and also could include the quantified value of benefits […]
Our previous Advisor began BLR’s annual summary of 10 HR Best Practices; today, best practices 6 through 10. [Go here for Best Practices #1 to #5] #6 Health and Wellness Ideas that employers can use in their wellness programs are as varied as the employees in an employer’s workforce. It may take some trial and […]
I’ve been thinking a lot about employee communication lately. I’ve been thinking about what makes for good, effective communication and how it can be a powerful force within any organization. I’ve decided that good communication must be H.O.T. H.O.T. stands for honest, open, and two-way. Honest. To me, honesty in communication is the bedrock. If […]
By Brian P. Smeenk Does Canadian law recognize a right to sue somebody for invasion of privacy? In a landmark ruling in Jones v. Tsige, Ontario’s highest court recently said essentially: Yes. In limited circumstances you can sue for “intrusion upon seclusion.” But you won’t have a big payday. This decision is a very significant […]
Employees may bring two types of Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)-related claims against their employers: first, interference with their rights under the FMLA, and, second, retaliation against them for requesting time off under the FMLA, exercising rights under it, or making a claim.
The business world has a problem. For years, well-intentioned companies have been scrambling to improve their workplace diversity by launching diversity campaigns, internal investigations, and more. But despite this, most companies are still failing to make a meaningful difference. In fact, a new report showed the pay gap between black and white technology workers has […]
What do you do about a reluctant witness, that is, the employee who doesn’t want to participate in your investigation? For guidance, we turned to BLR’s Workplace Investigations: The HR Manager’s Step-by-Step Guide. Start with the Handbook Your employee handbook should have a provision stating that all employees are required to participate in any […]