Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
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.
Recent legal challenges have focused on constitutional issues, but health care reform is expected to create new reasons for benefits and employment-law litigation, according to a reform expert. Reform rules fraught with legal risk include: (1) pay-or-play requirements, (2) claims appeals and external review, (3) essential benefits; and (4) retiree medical rules. Another area of […]
Employers often have some basic questions about employee handbooks. We’ll tackle a few of them today and tomorrow.
FMLA basics are confusing enough. And then each aspect—substitution, bonuses, holidays, etc.—seems to have its own tricky twist. Let’s let the “FMLA Bible” sort it out. Substitution Required? Notice Required Employees may choose to substitute accrued paid leave for FMLA, or the company can require it. (Many do.) However, it’s not quite as simple as […]
Employers should take note: more of their employees are coming to and going from the office via public transportation. That’s more than an interesting statistic — it has implications for employers. Employees who take public transportation to work may benefit from a tax break, but only if their employer sponsors a qualified transportation fringe benefit […]
Triton HR and BLR—Business & Legal Resources today announced their strategic partnership Woodbridge, NJ (March 13, 2012) Triton HR, spearheading a complete Web-based HR/Payroll solution in Human Resources management for small to mid-sized companies and BLR®—Business & Legal Resources, helping HR, Safety and Environmental professionals with legal compliance and professional support resources, today announced their […]
Studies show that the vast majority of 401(k) participants believe their plan is free. There may be a rude awakening the first time you inform them of the fees being charged. What to do? Again, we turn to BLR’s New 401(k) Fee Disclosure Compliance Download Report for help. Preparing Staff to Handle Questions/Concerns Preparing staff […]
Experts say travel pay disputes – from business trips and mandatory off-site training to commuting time, waiting time, and on-call time – could fuel an enormous surge in lawsuits filed by workers in 2012 and beyond. Why? Many employers haven’t updated their workplace policies in recent years to keep up with changing federal and state […]
I-9 audits can strike fear into the heart of even the most diligent HR professional. We try to ensure that we are meeting all obligations to only hire individuals who are legitimately eligible to work in the United States, but what can California employers do to protect ourselves in the case of an I-9 audit?
Changes to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) mean that sponsors of 401(k)s and other retirement plans have new responsibilities. If you are a fiduciary, and you get it wrong, your own assets could be at risk. The changes, which take effect July 1, 2012, are big. As a plan sponsor, you […]
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is refocusing its HIPAA privacy enforcement efforts on seeking monetary penalties in cases of “abject failure” to comply, the head of HHS’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) indicated. “The majority of matters we handle are going to be resolved through education” as they have in the […]