Month: March 2013

Here Comes EEOC 2013—Charges, Investigations, and Claims

Review of Charge Activity, Backlog, and Benefits Provided On November 19, 2012, the EEOC announced the publication of the FY 2012 Performance and Accountability Report. During FY 2012, the Commission again received nearly 100,000 charges, with the past 3 years involving a record number of charges in the Commission’s 47-year history. Since FY 2006, there […]

It’s better to be Dorothy than the Wizard

Over the weekend, an adaptation of The Wizard of Oz was released. If you’re like me, you grew up watching the 1939 classic. The new film got me thinking about those wonderful characters created by L. Frank Baum. There’s the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and of course Dorothy. Each one is etched […]

Is a 3% Merit Increase the ‘New Normal’?

Most companies are looking at around 3 percent for their merit budgets, says consultant Terry Pasteris, but they’re wishing they had 5 percent. In today’s Advisor, how she makes that (appear) to happen, plus an introduction to the all-comp-in-one-place website, Compensation.BLR.com. Salary Increase Budget Surveys Most employers are working with 3 percent for merit, as […]

Social media background checks? ‘I’m Not a Fan’

“Social media background checks are a hot item,” says attorney Kevin McCormick, “but I’m not a fan.” Sneaky, Low, Invasive Furthermore, social sleuthing smacks of “Sneaky,” “Low,” and “Invasion,” says McCormick. “One thing I know is what juries like and what they don’t like, and they don’t like that.” Chair of the Labor and Employment […]

More Pension Sponsors Considering Lump-sum Payouts

As defined benefit plan sponsors look harder for ways to cut expenses and lower exposure to market forces that challenge keeping their pension obligations funded, an obvious cost to evaluate is their commitment to lifetime retirement benefits for participants. Nearly 40 percent of U.S. employers with DB plans told Aon Hewitt in its recent 2013 […]

Small Employers May See Fewer Choices on SHOP in 2014, HHS Says

A health reform requirement that all insurers offer four levels of health coverage to small businesses would be delayed until 2015 under proposed rules scheduled to be published March 11 in the Federal Register. Under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposal, small employers may get one choice of health coverage in 2014. […]

Are You Training Employees in Online Safety and Security?

In a recent survey, 70 percent of owners/operators of small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the United States indicated that they do not provide online safety training for their employees. At the same time, however, 53 percent said it is important for new hires to be highly proficient in basic computer skills relating to the […]

Littler’s EEOC Activity Report—No Relief for Employers

Why Pay Is an Easy-to-Litigate Issue Harassment (“He made me uncomfortable”) is vague and often tough to prove, and discrimination (“You didn’t hire me because I am a member of a protected class”) is also hard to prove. But with pay issues —it’s there in dollars and cents for the agency rep or a jury […]

New voluntary standards for psychological health in the workplace

By Marc Rodrigue Increasing public attention has been given to mental health awareness. And Canadian employers are not exempt. Today’s employers have many employees who are affected by, directly or indirectly, psychological illness or are at risk of psychological hazards on the job. Sometimes these hazards can create human resources challenges, including extended employee absences […]