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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued the long awaited notice of proposed rulemaking on Employer Shared Responsibility for Healthcare—better known as Play or Pay—that takes effect on January 1, 2014. The IRS has also issued a Q&A on the requirements of the proposed regulations, says BLR® Senior Legal Editor Martin Simon, JD. In the […]
In a previous SBT we asked readers, “What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen or heard in an interview?” Here are a few responses, all with a common element, inappropriate attire (and attitude for story #2): One reader wrote: Applicant came to interview for office manager/receptionist job, with short (midriff showing) sleeveless blouse with cropped jeans. Not […]
Employees who want to work ergonomically, feel toned, and lose weight are bringing stability balls and treadmill desks to their offices. But they may be losing something other than weight—like their wellness, productivity, and respect for their work. According to a MarketWatch article by Jen Wieczner, “the idea of ‘active workstations’ sounds great,” but there […]
Employee engagement is very important in ensuring transfer and retention of knowledge. That’s because employee engagement: Drives customer loyalty, which creates business profitability; Aligns the goals and concerns of the employee base with those of the organization; Makes use of discretionary time; and Transforms “just a job” into an important part of the individual’s personal […]
On February 4, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule implementing two expansions of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The rule was issued to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Act. One of the expansions provides families of eligible veterans with the same FMLA-protected leave available […]
Haas, who is vice president of Wells Fargo Pharmacy Consulting, spoke to BLR about the problem of generic drug pricing. To attack the problem, Haas and his team at Wells Fargo created a unique procurement strategy. “About 4 years ago, we listed every generic drug—and there are about 2,750 of them—by their specific identifying codes. […]
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) observed the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) on February 4 by releasing a survey on its use and impact. The survey, conducted in 2012, follows previous assessments in 1995 and 2000. Both employees and worksites were surveyed. Here are some of […]
In the case of most employers, these requirements will be simple to implement, Simon says. But in the case of employers that are on the borderline of being covered or on the borderline of providing minimum essential and affordable healthcare coverage, the requirements can become very technical. Some of the questions and answers are presented […]
Effective and fun safety training is possible even for the safety director of a small company, who manages to deliver quality, cost-effective training that lives up to his company’s slogan “Safety Always.” For Jerry McGlynn, safety director for McWilliams Electric Co., bringing training in-house was a strategic decision. The family-owned business of about 90 employees […]
February 14 approaches and we’re filled with thoughts of love and romance … and lawsuits. Unfortunately, when the romance wears off, the retaliation and harassment charges begin. Why Does Love Matter to Employers? Joan Farrell, BLR Legal Editor, says it matters to employers because they are exposed to potential legal liability if a relationship goes […]