Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
There are dozens of details to take care of in the day-to-day operation of your department and your company. We give you case studies, news updates, best practices and training tips that keep your organization fully in compliance with ever-changing employment law, and you fully aware of emerging HR trends.
The California Industrial Welfare Commission (IWC) is no longer in operation. State budget cutbacks eliminated the IWC, which determined wages, hours, and working conditions of employees in various occupations, trades, and industries. The agency also published wage orders. However, employers are still required to post the appropriate wage order in their workplace, and the Division […]
The National Institute for Ocupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has produced a new training tool about preventing workplace violence. “Violence on the Job” is a 27-minute video (in two separate programs) that discusses practical measures for identifying risk factors for violence at work, and it offers recommendations and resources to help keep workers safe. The […]
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death at work. The highest rate of fatal work-related crashes occurs in the transportation, communications, and public utilities industries, but employees who drive on the job in any industry are at risk. Thus, if your employees […]
It’s that time of year again when Sacramento lawmakers are debating a wide variety of measures that could impact your workplace. Aug. 31 is the last day for legislators to pass bills, and Gov. Schwarzenegger must sign or veto them by Sept. 30. Here’s a look at some key proposals now on deck in the […]
Footing the bill for competent counsel to represent an employee accused of misconduct can be a wise financial decision, depending on the circumstances. And as a recent California appellate case illustrates, your payments cannot be used against you to hold your organization liable for the alleged wrongful act. We’ll explain the new decision and when […]
An employee who sued for religious discrimination after she lost her job for violating her company’s antiharassment policy was handed a defeat in a recent Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal decision. We’ll explain what happened and give you tips for avoiding similar problems.
Obey The Law Observe speed limits. Obey traffic signs and signals. Pass other vehicles only on the left. Signal before changing lanes. Never pass a stopped school bus. Yield to drivers who have right-of-way. Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Use your seat belt.
A SIMPLE IRA Plan Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees of Small Employers allows employees and employers to contribute to individual employee retirement accounts. As the name implies, it’s a simplified plan geared toward small employers, which means it’s relatively easy to set up and operate, with lower administrative costs than for more complicated types […]
The national median jury award in employment-practice liability cases, which includes discrimination and wrongful termination claims, rose 18 percent in 2003 to $250,000, according to a new report from Jury Verdict Research. At the same time, the compensatory award median for discrimination cases—including age, race, disability, and sex bias—fell slightly by 2 percent to $232,322. […]
Michael Ballaris filed a class action lawsuit claiming that his employer, Wacker Siltronic Corp. in Oregon, improperly subtracted “paid lunch” time payments from weekly overtime compensation. Wacker claimed the deductions were permissible because it wasn’t required to pay employees for their lunch period in the first place. But the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal, […]