Month: October 2013

Case Study: Yes, Supervisors Can Be Personally Liable for Failing to Provide Required Training

Steve Early had no experience or prior training operating a forklift nor was he certified as a forklift operator. Nevertheless, on his first day of work at the AZ Company, he was assigned to operate a forklift. “There’s nothing to it,” his supervisor told him. “It’s just like driving a car.” “OK,” Early agreed. “I […]

How Big Is the Number? (True Cost of EE Healthcare?)

In yesterday’s Advisor, , consultant Karl Ahlrichs presented a wellness program that grabbed the interest of 93 percent of employees and spouses. Today, more of his wellness wisdom, plus an introduction to the all-things-HR-in-one website, HR.BLR.com®. How Big Is the Number? Most HR managers underestimate the full costs of employee health (or lack thereof), says […]

What is Your Executive Compensation Philosophy?

Executive compensation levels can set the tone for the competitiveness of the organization. How a company defines its executive compensation philosophy will determine how much is offered to executives, which will in turn influence the strategic direction of the organization. For example, does your organization strive to hire only people who perform higher than all […]

IRS: Bike-share Is Not a Qualified Transport Fringe Benefit

Bicycle share expenses — incurred, for example, when one dips a credit card into a pay kiosk on the street in order to rent a bicycle from a public bike rack — do not qualify as payment for transportation on “mass transit facilities,” as some have argued, nor do they constitute a “qualified bicycle commuting […]

Medical Approval, Carpal Tunnel, and More

Yesterday attorney David Schmit, founder of Schmit Law in Oakland, addressed some common (yet vexing) return-to-work questions. Today, his thoughts on a few more—plus an introduction to a workers’ comp webinar you won’t want to miss.

“Team building” requires much more than a weekend retreat

by Dan Oswald We talk a lot about teams in the workplace today. When we recruit to fill a position, we say, “We’re looking for team players.” When the team achieves success, we say, “We win as a team.” When we consider whether we have the right people on the team, we say, “The team […]

DOL Issues Spanish Version of FMLA Notice Poster

The U.S. Department of Labor has issued the Spanish version of the General Family and Medical Leave Act Notice poster, which incorporates changes in the new and revised regulations issued earlier this year. Under FMLA, a covered employer must post a copy of the General FMLA Notice in each location where it has any employees […]

An Intriguing Wellness Program that Really Works

Wellness tip: Change the machines so that soda is $2.50 and water is 50 cents, says wellness expert Karl Ahlrichs. In today’s Advisor, he details some solid wellness results. First, says Ahlrichs, a consultant and business developer with Gregory & Appel in Indianapolis, Indiana, here’s just one example of why wellness is failing: Getting more […]