Category: HR Management & Compliance

There are dozens of details to take care of in the day-to-day operation of your department and your company. We give you case studies, news updates, best practices and training tips that keep your organization fully in compliance with ever-changing employment law, and you fully aware of emerging HR trends.

FLSA: Brand Advocates Are Not Exempt Employees

By Steve Jones, Jack Nelson Jones & Bryant, P.A The 8th Circuit recently held that an electronics manufacturer’s “brand advocates” were incorrectly classified as “exempt” employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). As a result, the employees will get a chance to convince a jury that they’re entitled to overtime under the FLSA.

Ask the Expert: Is our Graphic Designer Exempt or Non-exempt?

We have a graphic designer who currently we designate as non-exempt. I realize they can be an exempt position but we are trying to determine if the position is really exempt. His supervisor says that the employee comes up with ideas for advertising and develops them. My concern is that he does more routine, manual […]

Getting the C-Suite’s Attention: 7 Strategies

The first step in becoming a real HR strategist whose work is valued by the C-suite is, of course, to get their attention. Expert Jennifer McClure offers 7 strategies for transforming from HR leader to business leader. McClure, president of Unbridled Talent LLC in West Chester, Ohio, offered her tips at SHRM’s Annual Conference and […]

Training Time—To Pay or Not to Pay?

When it comes to training time, usually compensation isn’t called into question. But what if a prospective employee’s offer of employment is contingent on whether he or she passes certain training classes? Can these preliminary training classes be unpaid? In a situation like this one, employers may be reluctant to shell out compensation for time […]

In Case You Didn’t Hear, California’s Workers’ Compensation System Is Changing

In late September, the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and its Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) posted final, approved regulations that transition the Golden State’s workers’ compensation system from the ICD-9 system of diagnosis to the ICD-10 system of diagnosis (effective October 1, 2015). But don’t worry—if this is the first you’ve heard of […]

Arbitration Clause Is A-OK for California Supreme Court

By: Beth A. Kahn and Hubert T. Lee Arbitration agreements are popular among California employers, but in many instances the employer has to go to court in order enforce the agreement. Recently, the California Supreme Court upheld an arbitration provision in a sales agreement, even though quite a few of the terms were arguable—but also […]

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More Misclassification in California

Several recent cases (including a highly publicized one involving ride-sharing company Uber) have highlighted just how expensive it can be to misclassify employees as independent contractors in California. However, it still happens—and we’ve got another case to share with our readers.

Workplace Fatalities Continue Downward Trend in California

Preliminary workplace fatality statistics for 2014 were recently released by California’s Department of Industrial Relations (DIR)—and they reflect a 16% decrease in workplace fatalities from the previous year. This is encouraging when compared with the preliminary data for the whole United States, which shows an increase of 2%.

California’s Economic Growth Expected to Outpace U.S.

By: Chris Kirkham Good news for California businesses—according to the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation’s (LAEDC) annual forecast, there will be continued job growth and economic output in the state through 2020. This is expected to outpace the rest of the nation.