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Technology: Can We Prevent Our Employees from Putting Up a Company Website Just for Employees?

Several of our employees have set up a website that is for information relating to our organization. They post all kinds of materials there, including ratings of bosses and departments, complaints, blog-like rants, and so on. And then, as well, they have a calendar, announcements, birthdays, and stuff like that. It’s becoming very popular with […]

Tap Into Generational IT Insight

M. Lee Smith Publishers’ President Dan Oswald comments on the generational divide that most companies are experiencing in relation to technology and offers five tips for how employers can harness the know-how and insight of their younger employees. I recently handed a newspaper column written by Financial Times columnist Luke Johnson to my 18-year old […]

E-Alert Item: Most Employers Don’t Offer Holiday Bonuses, Survey Shows

According to a new survey from human resource consulting firm Hewitt Associates, most companies don’t offer holiday bonuses. Out of 432 employers surveyed, 67% won’t offer any type of bonus for the holidays this year–this includes cash, food or other types of gifts. Since 1999, the percentage of employers not offering bonuses has hovered between […]

Bulletin Item: Gov. Davis Signs Several Employer-related Pieces of Legislation

The newly signed laws expand privacy procedures for Social Security numbers (SB 25), provide leave for crime victims and their families (SB 478), mandate that state government contractors provide domestic partner benefits (AB 17 and AB 205), and require employers to protect workers from sex harassment by nonemployees (AB 76). We’ll have all the details […]

Government Issues Health Care Reform Regulations on ‘Grandfathered’ Plans

On June 14, the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and Treasury issued new regulations addressing grandfathered plans under health care reform and how such plans can keep their grandfathered status. Although the new health care reform legislation (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Affordability […]

Proposed Legislation Would Give Small Employers Scheduling Flexibility

Small employers and their employees would be given new flexibility in work scheduling under a new measure introduced in the California Assembly. A.B. 2127 would allow employers with 25 or fewer employees to approve an employee’s written request to work up to 10-hour days within a 40-hour workweek without paying daily overtime. Under current law, […]

Harassment Allegations Require Immediate Action

As soon as an employee comes to you and says, “I’m being harassed,” you need to address that allegation immediately. It may be that no harassment has actually taken place, but it’s your job to launch a prompt, thorough investigation to find out.

Legislation Special Report: Domestic Partners Defined

  Because the new laws make domestic partners eligible for the same benefits and workplace rights as spouses, it is important to understand the definition of “domestic partners.” Public and private employers must follow this definition with respect to any rights or benefits afforded domestic partners by law.