Author: Guest Columnist

Taking the Soft Approach to Corporate Wellness

by Kerry Anne Carter, vice president of Sales, and Carl Bergauer, field sales director, Staples Business Advantage It’s in a company’s best interest to ensure their workers are happy and healthy, so they can be more productive and positively impact the bottom line. However, simply putting a wellness program in place isn’t always the answer.

Ask the Expert: Are Airline Carriers Exempt from New Overtime Regs?

Question: We are an airline carrier covered under Title II of the Railway Labor Act. Are all of our employees exempt from FLSA? Or only certain employees performing non-exempt work? We have several exempt employees well below the $47,476 threshold set to take effect December 1. Do we have to pay them according to the […]

retirement

What’s Fair is Fair: Global Compensation and the Need for Parity

by Magali Delafosse, group VP of HR, Crown Worldwide Group In today’s global economy, sending talented employees abroad has not only become a growing trend, but a competitive necessity. It’s projected that between now and 2020, annual international assignments will increase by 50%—having already increased by 25% over the last 10 years. But overseas assignments […]

vacation

An FMLA Day in the Middle of Vacation? Nice Try, Court Says

United Airlines was within its rights when it decided to fire an employee who it determined had abused his Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave. He took 1 day of medical leave in the middle of a planned, 20-day vacation, after unsuccessfully trying to get coworkers to cover his shift, court documents show.

Most Surveyed Companies Do Not Run Active Shooter Preparedness Drills

News reports provide repeated reminders to employers across the country that active shooter incidents are not just a potential threat but a real one. While it is reassuring to adopt a “that will never happen here” mind-set, it is important to be proactive—planning ahead and training your employees on what to do if such an […]

Surveys Reveal Less than Half of Employers Have a Formal Process for Pay Equity

Just over half of U.S. employees believe they are being paid fairly compared with workers who hold similar jobs either at their own or other companies, according to the 2016 Global Workforce Study by Willis Towers Watson, a leading global advisory, broking, and solutions company. At the same time, a companion survey of U.S. employers […]

communication

3 Ways to Improve Benefits Communication

by Karen Gustin, executive vice president of Ameritas Group Division We know that when it comes to health benefits, employees want choices. And they expect their employers to help them understand those choices. Studies show that people are more satisfied with their jobs, and less likely to look for other employment opportunities, if they believe […]