Tag: DOL

Misclassification mistakes: Know risks and prevention strategies

It’s almost an understatement to call misclassification of employees as independent contractors a hot topic. It’s certainly the subject of a growing list of court cases, government agency investigations, and legislative initiatives. Various agencies at both the state and federal level have been in crackdown mode for a few years now, and it’s no wonder: […]

Managing Default Options Is a Crucial Plan Sponsor Role, Study Says

With an ever-increasing number of private-sector retirement plan participants relying on automatic enrollment and the investment choices their employers select, the best way for plan sponsors to help these workers achieve a secure retirement is to choose and manage their default options well, a new survey suggests. The defined contribution investments unit of money manager […]

The 3 Key Criteria for Choosing Your Payroll Auditor

Lambert, who offers payroll training as “The Payroll Advisor,”says that you can’t give payroll auditing over to just anyone who’s free.  There are three points that are critical for choosing the auditor.  1. Not the Person Who Does the Job First, says Lambert, you want someone other than the one who does the job to […]

Obama and Romney Agree, Affirmative Action Needs to Change

Eye on the Election For today’s topic of likely changes to affirmative action after the election, we turned to Susan Schoenfeld, J.D., Senior Legal Editor for BLR’s human resources and employment law publications. Schoenfeld was formerly an attorney with the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) in Washington, D.C., where she […]

Spot Awards—A Detailed Plan You Can Use

Here are the last two of Cherry and Green’s Six types of incentive. [Go here for the first four types.] Cherry and Green are both principals at HR consultant Hay Group. They offered their tips at a recent webinar hosted by BLR and HR Hero. Plan Type Overview Advantages Disadvantages Recognition Cash or non-cash reward […]

Feds Should Improve Hiring Practices and Set Goals for Contractors, Says NCD

The federal government should finalize its proposed hiring goal for federal contractors, the National Council on Disability said in a report to President Obama. But the feds also need to improve their own hiring practices, the council said. These are among the recommendations contained in the council’s National Disability Policy: A Progress Report, released Sept. […]

USI Advisors to Pay $1.3 Million to 13 DB Plans Over Mutual Fund Fee Disclosure

A Connecticut-based fiduciary investment adviser agreed in a settlement to pay about $1.3 million to 13 pension plans to resolve alleged ERISA violations related to mutual fund fees the firm received. USI Advisors Inc. made investments in mutual funds on behalf of ERISA-covered defined benefit plan clients and received 12b-1 fees from those funds, according […]

FLSA Violations Are Out of Fashion, Says DOL in Targeting Apparel Industry

A sweeping new U.S. Department of Labor enforcement initiative targeting California’s apparel industry may highlight wage and hour compliance issues for retailers and manufacturers. The companies that make, ship, market and sell clothing have long faced scrutiny over labor practices but industry proponents argue that they have made great strides. DOL appears to disagree, launching […]

DOL Test for Classifying Interns as Unpaid

Unpaid internships can be mutually beneficial for students and employers: students receive invaluable workplace experience and employers benefit from the opportunity to begin training the next generation of talent. However, you must be aware of the distinction between paid and unpaid internships. Internships in the for-profit, private sector will most often be viewed as employment […]

Could taking on unpaid summer interns lead to trouble under the FLSA?

Unpaid internships are viewed universally as great opportunities for students to acquire valuable job skills and experience. In fact, experiential learning opportunities provide students with a leg-up on those competing for jobs right out of college. However, warns Evelyn Gentry, Faegre Baker Daniels LLP, there are downsides for employers that use unpaid interns, the most […]