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Pregnant employees in New York City will soon be entitled to workplace accommodations, thanks to a bill the city’s council unanimously passed Sept. 24. While the Americans with Disabilities Act requires workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities, it does not consider normal pregnancy a disability. According to the bill, the change was necessary because of […]
Combating FMLA abuse can be frustrating, but there are some straightforward actions employers can take to limit abuse before it happens. It all starts with proper administration of FMLA leave, including the use of medical certifications and recertifications as allowed within the FMLA regulations. These tools not only provide clarity for FMLA leave eligibility, but […]
What's an employer to do when there is ample documentation to terminate an employee, but the employee has recently engaged in a protected activity? For example, what if the employee files a workers' compensation claim or takes FMLA leave in close proximity to performance issues? This presents a real timing dilemma for employers: Doesn't it look retaliatory to terminate the employee immediately after the protected activity?
In yesterday’s Advisor, we offered guidance on FMLA certifications; today, we’ll cover when you can “clarify” or “authenticate” those certifications, and we’ll introduce the unique checklist-based audit system that lets you find problems before the feds and the lawyers do. Authentication and Clarification of Medical Certifications Employers are entitled to authenticate or clarify information received […]
How can you know if your comp program is meeting organization goals? You have to maintain metrics, says consultant Terry Pasteris, CCP, GRP. But there are metrics, and then there are metrics. Under the FMLA, employers may request medical certification of the need to take leave for the employee’s own serious health condition or the […]
Today’s Advisor is adapted from the Ask the Trainer feature on BLR’s hr.blr.com. The training question is, “How can trainers ensure the success of a diversity training program?” Here is how our training expert responded: Paul Lawrence Vann, a motivational speaker, author, and trainer, recommends providing diversity training to all employees—from top management to rank-and-file […]
With the DOMA ruling so recent in our minds, employers have more unanswered employee benefits questions than ever before. Is it now illegal to tax healthcare benefits for a same-sex spouse? How should multi-state employers react if the final ruling comes down that only same-sex couples who reside in a state that recognizes same-sex marriages […]
When the Supreme Court ruled that Section 3 of DOMA is unconstitutional, it opened up the possibility for married same-sex couples to be extended federal benefits on many levels, including things like FMLA leave. While the details have yet to be sorted, employers are gearing up for the many changes that will surely result. In […]
Lectures are still probably the most common classroom training method. That’s because they are an efficient and cost-effective way to convey information and general knowledge to large groups of employees at one time. For example, lectures are a particularly good way to explain new policies, train employees in the requirements of laws and regulations, and […]
Are deductions from pay ever allowed for exempt employees? Naturally an employer can make deductions for taxes or employee contributions to retirement or insurance premiums, but what about deductions for days of work missed? What about deductions for time an employee is out due to disciplinary action?