Wednesday May 8, 2024

Avoiding an ERISA lawsuit: 4 must-check areas

An airtight administrative process is the best defense against an ERISA lawsuit.   If you can show you have a fair process and make sound, consistent decisions based on that process, courts are more likely to rule in your favor. Plus, a fair administrative process can go a long way toward preventing a lawsuit in […]

EEOC issues sample of wellness notice you must provide, answers questions

If you’ve got a wellness program that asks questions about employees’ health, you need to see this.  The EEOC just released a sample of the wellness notice employers must provide wellness plan participants who are asked questions about their health or medical status. What’s the notice all about? As you likely recall, back in May, the […]

Looks like the union ‘quickie election’ rule is here to stay

The NLRB’s “quickie election” rule has survived another court challenge — and it could be the last one.   A federal appeals court recently ruled that the rule doesn’t violate federal labor law. As you remember, the rule, which went into effect last year, streamlines the process for forming employee unions. A recent Fisher Phillips […]

Feds issue sex discrimination final rule: 7 things all employers need to know

The DOL’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) just updated a final rule updating the sex discrimination regulations federal contractors are required to abide by. But there’s a reason private sector employers should pay attention as well.  That reason: This rule is a clear indicator of how the DOL expects all employers to treat their […]

Does your FMLA policy jibe with DOL’s latest move?

The DOL’s latest FMLA move has made reviewing your leave policy a must — or you could face penalties.  As you’ve likely heard, the DOL issued a new General FMLA Notice for employers to hang in their workplaces. And while the DOL said that using the new version of the notice is optional for those […]

The 10 oddest things HR managers have caught employees doing

A survey was just conducted to find out what’s stifling employee productivity, and HR managers revealed some disturbing things about their workers.  That is to say they shared a lot of the weird stuff their employees like to do while on the clock. Some of the more distributing things named in the survey: Employee was working on a […]

Top 5 Applicant Tracking (ATS) Software: Get Reviews, Free Demos & Price Quotes

The recruitment process can be arduous for both employers and candidates. From sourcing candidates to tracking current applicants and ultimately hiring the ideal candidate, an ATS will reduce the time and expense of hiring new employees for both HR departments as well as recruiting and staffing agencies. There are hundreds of ATS solutions currently on […]

Feds reveal how to handle tax treatment of wellness rewards

Most HR pros are focused on ensuring their wellness rewards meet the strict requirements of the ACA and the ADA. But the IRS just reminded employers there are other considerations as well. Via its Office of Chief Counsel, the agency just released a memorandum on its views of the tax treatment of rewards under employer […]

What exactly is business casual? A do’s and don’ts dress code policy

If you’re telling new hires that your dress policy is “business casual,” you can bet they’ll do three things before they show up for work the next day.  They are: Google “business casual” Then, after reading too much confusing and contradictory advice online, they’ll call a friend to ask “Hey Mike, what the heck is business […]

Should ‘ban the box’ be banned? 2 studies’ surprising findings

The law of unintended consequences strikes again.  This time, it’s with “ban the box” laws. The intent of such laws, which have been adopted by nearly 100 cities and nearly two dozen states, is clear: provide individuals with criminal records a better chance of reentering the workforce. After all, if employers can’t ask a job candidate […]