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Medicare Part D Notices Due by November 15

By Nov. 15, 2005, employers or their group health plans that offer prescription drug coverage to active employees and retirees who are eligible for Medicare must provide these individuals and their dependents with a notice indicating whether the plan’s coverage is “creditable coverage” under Medicare Part D. The notice must be provided regardless of whether […]

Paid FMLA Leave: Our Readers Talk Back!

By BLR Founder and CEO Bob Brady Bob’s support of Family and Medical Act (FLMA) leave paid for by … somebody … generated a lot of heat … and several proposed solutions. Bob Brady is off covering a conference this week, so we thought we would give you a taste of the e-mails he’s received […]

Short-termism Always a Challenge for HR, says Al Gore

In yesterday’s Advisor, we got Steve Forbes’ and Al Gore’s take on critical HR issues. Today, Gore on short-term thinking and compensation, and an introduction to the “Compensation Bible.” Challenge #4: Organization Development [Go here for Challenges 1 to 3.] Gore worked on the “reinventing government” program at the country’s largest employer, the United States […]

Connecticut employers need to be ready for new social media law

by John Herrington Connecticut employers need to prepare for a new law taking effect October 1 limiting how they can access social media accounts belonging to employees and applicants. The new law prohibits an employer from: Requesting or requiring employees or applicants to provide a username, password, or any other authentication means for accessing a […]

For New Supervisors or Managers, "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished"

“No good deed goes unpunished.” Nowhere is that more true than when untrained supervisors and managers try to be good bosses. If you’ve got new or recently promoted supervisors or managers, see if any of these situations are familiar: “Do you think you might be depressed?” asks the concerned but untrained boss. “I didn’t,” says […]

WSJ’s Top Small Workplaces: How Teamwork Helps

In yesterday’s Advisor, we listed common traits of The Wall Street Journal’s 15 top small companies. Today we’ll explore one of those traits—teamwork—taking our cue from a unique BLR resource, Managing an HR Department of One. For many of the top small workplaces, teamwork is an important part of the structure and atmosphere. Why is […]

New Reform Rules Guaranteeing Better Access May Result in Higher Costs

Final health insurance market reform rules issued Feb. 22 could result in higher health premiums, a major association of health insurers predicted, even though the policy goal is make health insurance more dependable and valuable for consumers. The final rules issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are designed to ensure that […]

Survey Says: While Conditions Are Improving, There’s Still Work to Be Done

The American workforce is ever changing, with women now accounting for about half the work force as well as increased racial and ethnic diversity. Recently, CareerBuilder conducted a survey of  more than 1,300 workers from diverse segments — African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, women, workers with disabilities and Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender (LGBT) workers — to find out how […]

Obama administration delays another ACA provision

The Obama administration has delayed another Affordable Care Act (ACA) provision. The administration has postponed a consumer protection provision that limits out-of-pocket costs until 2015. Under the provision, the limit on out-of-pocket costs was not to exceed $6,350 for an individual and $12,700 for a family. According to the New York Times, the one-year grace […]

Reasonable Accommodations: New Case Says You May Have To Allow Telecommuting; Tips For Managing Accommodations

Suppose an accommodation you’ve provided for a disabled employee isn’t working out. How far must you go to find a new accommodation? And do you have to consider telecommuting as an alternative? A recent Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision zeroes in on these questions. And we’ll suggest ways to manage the accommodation process to […]