Thursday May 9, 2024

IRS clarifies puzzling issue sparked by new FSA carryover rules

The IRS finally caved and let health flexible spending account (FSA) holders carry over some funds from year to year. But that allowance opened up a whole different can of worms.   The question the IRS’s new FSA rules have created: Can carrying over FSA funds prevent an individual from participating in a health flexible spending (HSA) account? […]

Don’t let workplace bullying take down your workforce: A 3-step plan

Employers aren’t doing enough to stop workplace bullying, according to new research. What’s HR to do? More than 25% of U.S. workers say they’ve been bullied at work, according to a new survey from the Workplace Bullying Institute. Worse: More than 70% of staff say their firms haven’t done anything to stop bullying, according to the […]

Alcoholism and the ADA: Not as clear-cut as you think

When an employee struggles with alcoholism, does he qualify as disabled?  Alcoholic — and more David Crosby, who worked as a driver for F.W. Webb Co., had been struggling for years with alcohol abuse when he also began to experience anxiety and insomnia. Eventually, things got bad enough that Crosby took FMLA leave and checked […]

Oh, great: NLRB’s back at it, editing your employee handbook

And the beat goes on: The National Labor Relations Board has stuck its nose into another non-union organization’s employee handbook.   The latest case involves Hills and Dales General Hospital in Cass City, MI. The employer had issued an employee, Danielle Corliss, a written warning for a Facebook comment she posted in response to remarks […]

6 Tricks and Tips for Planning Corporate Travel

New to planning corporate tavel? Don’t sweat it. We can help. “Travel planning” doesn’t have to be in your title to be your responsibility. Once you get the hang of it it, it’s a fun puzzle to solve. Download this whitepaper to learn the 6 tricks and tips!   Tweet This Post

Sex harassment: 2 companies that screwed up big-time

These two companies aren’t exactly role models when it comes to handling sex harassment complaints. An inappropriate use of streaming In the first case, an office furniture and office supply company in Minnesota will pay $11,000 in emotional-distress damages to a former employee to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity […]

Dealing with Obamacare: Beware of potential ERISA pitfalls

The healthcare reform law has left employers with a lot of important decisions to make. But further complicating matters is a tricky section in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).   Section 510 of ERISA prohibits employers from punishing employees for exercising — or attempting to exercise — their rights under a benefit plan. It also […]

Is banning dreadlocks race bias?

A new case raises some interesting questions about grooming policies and religious accommodations.  No dreadlocks or no job Here are the details of the case: Catastrophe Management Solutions offered a job to a candidate — so long as she cut her dreadlocks. She refused, and the job offer was rescinded. The former candidate then went […]

Tired of riding herd on managers? Here’s the cure: robots

You know how tough it can be to get managers trained on the ever-increasing details of employment regs? Two researchers may have found your answer: robots.   We’re not kidding. James Young and Derek Cormier, writing on the Harvard Business Review blog, describe an experiment at the University of Manitoba to see if people would actually […]

‘Living on adrenaline for years’ has spiked employee burnout

Do your managers know how to spot the signs of employee burnout?   You’re familiar with the effects burnout has on an organization — low morale and lower productivity. Higher turnover. Higher absenteeism. Even higher medical claims. In a study last year from employee assistance plan provider ComPsych, some 62% of employees reported having high […]