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.
A psychiatrist suffering from attention deficit disorder has won $902,000 after suing his employer under state anti-discrimination laws for failing to accommodate his own psychological problems. Stanley Swenson Jr. worked at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center for 15 years. He claimed his condition made it difficult for him to keep up with patient charts and […]
You may be shopping around for new workers’ compensation or other business insurance because your current insurer has decided not to renew your policy, or it wants to make significant changes in your coverage.
Governor Wilson has just signed a new law which will provide employees of small organizations access to COBRA-type continuation health care benefits. The new rules take effect January 1, 1998.
When employees are off work because of a job injury, it can be to everyone’s benefit to get them back to work quickly. Returning employees to work with an adjusted schedule or a light-duty assignment can save employers money by reducing workers’ comp costs. Employees can earn more money and feel more productive and less […]
Despite the passage of California’s Proposition 209, affirmative action is alive and well if you sell goods or services to the federal government. In fact, the Office of Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), which enforces the affirmative action rules that cover government contractors, recently revised its regulations. Here are the highlights.
A California Court of Appeal has ruled independent contractors can’t sue you for race-based termination of their contracts. But, despite media reports calling this decision a major employer victory, you still need to proceed cautiously when dealing with independent contractors. Here’s why.
A sexual harassment complaint can lead to big legal bills and a massive jury verdict. But responding correctly at the start can dramatically reduce your risks. That was the experience of one employer who scrupulously handled a disgruntled saleswoman’s sexual harassment complaint, and was able to get her lawsuit dismissed without a trial.
When employees leave to join a competitor or start their own business, is your confidential data going with them? Sometimes the most valuable, but least-guarded information-like your customers’ names or even an employee’s rolodex-could seriously harm your business if it falls into the wrong hands. This problem continues to cause big headaches for many employers. […]
Suppose a doctor orders one of your workers not to lift anything over 25 pounds and, as a result, the employee can’t perform certain job duties. If the person demands an accommodation, must you provide one? At first glance, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) might seem to apply to this situation. But a new […]
Credit reports can be a useful tool for screening job applicants, but using them recently became more complex. That’s because of several important changes to the federal Consumer Credit Reporting Reform Act that are effective September 30, 1997. If you violate these provisions or a similar state law, you can be sued for steep penalties, […]