Author: Stephen Bruce, PhD, PHR

Senior HR Exec? Apply to Attend THRIVE HR Leadership Exchange

The THRIVE HR Leadership Exchange is BLR’s expense-paid gathering of top HR execs, held this year September 25-27 at the Omni Tucson National Resort in Tucson, Arizona. The event will focus on the challenges, problems, and solutions to today’s top HR concerns.

Thoughts on Leadership from History

Successful supervisors and managers don’t boss their employees around—they lead them. However, not everyone has the same definition of effective leadership. In today’s Advisor, we will try to define “leadership”—with the help of some historical figures.

communication

Second DOL FAQ on Fiduciary Rule Addresses Questions About Fiduciary Communications

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released the second set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) for retirement plan professionals on the agency’s complex new fiduciary rule just days before the end of the Obama administration in an effort to answer plan practitioners’ questions about how the rule draws lines between fiduciary and nonfiduciary communications, education, and advice.

Genetic Testing as Part of Workplace Wellness Programs

Designing competitive benefit packages that help you attract and retain top talent can be daunting.  While health and well-being benefits may only represent a small portion of your overall compensation plan, they can drive a disproportionate share of your budget.  Could the introduction of genetic testing as a covered benefit allow you to better manage your healthcare spend?  With the promise of continued increases in your healthcare premiums, perhaps now is the time to seriously consider using genetic testing in order to offer more personalized benefits.

Exceptions Timekeeping Is Legal—But It’s a ‘Horrible’ Idea

Employers would be wise to ignore the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) regulations and guidance that permit exceptions timekeeping under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The department says that the practice is fine, but experts warn that it sets employers up to violate another DOL mandate: “complete and accurate” time records.

maternity

Intermittent Leave: Pregnant Employees and Curbing Abuse

In the last installment, we covered the rules regarding Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) intermittent leave. This article will focus on intermittent leave regarding pregnant employees. Curbing abuse of intermittent leave for pregnant employees can be difficult due to the permissive approach taken by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to FMLA leave during […]

CMS Finalizes Health Insurance Marketplace Rules

On December 16, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters final rule and the final Annual Letter to Issuers for 2018. The primary focus of the notice—risk stabilization—complements recent announcements that are meant to improve the risk pool, including actions to address third-party payments of premiums and improve program integrity for […]

Letting an Employee Go … the Right Way

By Bridget Miller No matter how well-documented the problem is—and no matter how carefully considered the decision has been—firing an employee is almost always difficult. It’s a moment fraught with high emotions on all sides. Guest columnist Bridget Miller has some tips for doing it the right way.