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I-9s Are Still a Hassle, and ICE Is Heating Up Audits

IRCA’s Requirements The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) requires every employer to complete and retain the Form I-9 for all new employees and current employees hired on or after November 6, 1986, who will perform work for pay or other compensation, says Tsai, who is Of Counsel in the Salt Lake City […]

Need Asbestos Training?

For owners and operators of commercial buildings, staying on top of asbestos training can be time-consuming, confusing, and costly. In addition to Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations to protect workers, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also has numerous regulations designed to address asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) management. Due to the many considerations building operators must […]

Performance Appraisals: Real World Do’s and Don’ts

Performance appraisals may be time-consuming and something few people enjoy, but they are worth the effort from a legal and an HR perspective, says Attorney Tom Makris.. Makris, senior counsel at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, and Rhoma Young of the HR consulting firm Rhoma Young & Associates offered tips for ensuring that performance appraisals are […]

Federal contractors facing new regulations: Tips for compliance

Employers doing business with the federal government need to mark March 24 in red on their calendars. That’s when major parts of new regulations affecting how they recruit and hire veterans and people with disabilities take effect.  The Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) requires contractors to take affirmative action to employ veterans covered […]

Do Your Employees Know How to Protect Themselves from Identity Theft?

The Federal Trade Commission estimates that as many as 9 million or 10 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. According to the National Crime Prevention Council, identity theft costs consumers $5 billion annually. Clearly, identity theft is a serious problem nationwide. Although it does not affect the workplace directly, it could affect some […]

Get Plugged in to Electrical Safety Training

The material in today’s Advisor is adapted from a course in TrainingToday’s Workplace Safety Library called “Electrical Safety—Unqualified Worker.” Regulatory Overview 29 CFR 1910.302 to 1910.308 (design safety rules), and 29 CFR 1910.331 to 1910.335 (safe work practice rules) Electrical safety deals with the reliability and effective maintenance of electrical systems that can be achieved […]

Great Incentive Plan + Poor Communication = Poor Incentive Plan

Communicating the Sales Incentive Plan Sometimes Pasteris sees the situation in which there was a great sales plan design but it failed because it was not well understood and appreciated by the salespeople. To avoid that situation, make sure that you: Send an announcement letter, particularly with the new plan that spells out its features. […]

Vague Appeal Letters Help Overturn Denial for Dental Work

The claims administrator of an employer-sponsored health plan abused its discretion when it rejected a health benefits claim because it: (1) denied it without an explanation or plausible support; (2) had a structural conflict of interest because it was also the insurer; and (3) violated ERISA regulations by merely reciting its policy without refuting the […]

The 9 Most Common Form I-9 Mistakes

In yesterday’s Advisor, Attorney Roger Tsai briefed readers on dealing with Form I-9 challenges. Today, we present Tsai’s nine most common mistakes on I-9 forms, plus an introduction to the all-things-HR-in-one-place website, HR.BLR.com®. Tsai, who is Of Counsel at Holland & Hart LLP in the Salt Lake City office, delivered his practical tips at BLR’s […]

Employers in Tax-break Pilot May Offer myRA Accounts by Late 2014

Employers may not feel much of an administrative burden from the new “starter” retirement savings accounts announced Jan. 28 in President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address, but those opting to participate should be prepared for employees’ questions about the My Retirement Account or “myRA” program ahead of its launch late this year. While […]