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.

Union-Limiting Law Goes Down in Ohio

Ohio Governor John Kasich says he’s taking “a deep breath” after voters overwhelmingly rejected a state law he supported placing limits on collective bargaining for government workers. Union supporters are praising the vote that rejected Senate Bill 5, a law that would have prohibited strikes by public-sector unions, ended binding arbitration, stopped promotions based totally […]

What’s at Stake When You’re Accused of Harassment

Yesterday, we looked at the first 5 of Lyne Richardson and Jolina Abrena’s tips for minimizing potential liability for discrimination and harassment at your workplace. Today, the rest of the top 10, plus an introduction to a streamlined, yet comprehensive, A.B. 1825 training resource.

HHS Kicks Off HITECH Privacy Audits

A wave of HIPAA privacy audits far more comprehensive than anything attempted to date was officially launched Nov. 8 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). While their official purpose is not enforcement, these audits are likely to cast a broader net than HHS scrutiny has to date — including possibly group […]

3 Tips for the Last Paycheck, Complying with Final Pay Laws – Part 1

Immediately upon termination of an employee, employers in California must hand over the last paycheck, paying all wages earned and unpaid at the time of discharge. Since the employer is the one initiating the termination, it is their responsibility to ensure this happens immediately. Otherwise, there will be consequences under final pay laws.

Huddle House Franchisees: Egg on Their Faces?

Huddle House, Inc. has agreed to pay more than $60,000 to 128 employees and to step up compliance with wage and hour laws. In addition, Labor Department officials assessed $48,317 in civil money penalties for repeat and child labor violations. The Labor’s wage and hour investigations were initiated under a multiyear enforcement initiative focused on […]

7 Steps to Get Ready for Union Attack

Special from BLR’s Advanced Employment Issues Symposium In yesterday’s Advisor, attorney Kevin McCormick briefed us on new union tactics and the new NLRB aggressiveness; today, his 7 steps to get ready for union organizers plus an introduction to a unique guide just for small, or even one-person, HR departments. McCormick, a partner at Whiteford, Taylor, […]

Employer Fears Lead to Discrimination Against Disabled Workers, Agency Charges

Employers need more guidance on their responsibilities under the ADA Amendments Act, according to the National Council on Disability, an independent federal agency. “NCD’s stakeholders consistently list discrimination as one of the primary barriers keeping them out of the workforce,” according to a progress report released by the NCD in October. Because of employers’ fears […]

Employers Warned of New Misclassification Dangers (video)

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is focusing “an enormous amount of attention” on misclassifying workers as exempt, non-exempt, and independent contractors and is throwing significant resources at the problem, according to attorney Susan G. Fentin, who spoke at the recent Advanced Employment Issues Symposium in Nashville, Tennessee. Plus, the DOL and the IRS are […]

Aggressive NLRB Has Surprises for HR

Special from BLR’s Advanced Employment Issues Symposium Unions are desperate, says attorney Kevin McCormick, because their numbers are down and many of the things they once promised workers (like safer workplaces) are now mandated by government agencies. The result? They’re getting aggressive in new ways. As an example of new union tactics, McCormick points to […]