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HHS Regs Offer Protection for Health Care Providers’ Moral Beliefs
In a remarkably last-minute fashion, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued final regulations protecting health care providers who withhold medical care based on conflicting moral beliefs. The rule, which covers federally funded health care providers, takes effect January 18, 2009 — the required 30 days after its under-the-wire December 19 […]
HR Lawsuits Get Personal (Part 2 – What to Do)
The threat of individual lawsuits is growing, and HR managers are right in the thick of it. Here are tactics for avoiding such suits … and an antilawsuit tool you should be using regularly. Yesterday’s Advisor reported on a troubling increase in plaintiffs in employment law cases filing suit against individual managers as well as […]
E-Alerts: Health and Safety: Two New OSHA Resources Available
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is offering a “Cold Stress Card” that recommends ways to avoid health problems caused by prolonged exposure to freezing or cold temperatures on the job. According to OSHA, workers in construction, commercial fishing, maritime, and agriculture are at highest risk for these problems, which can include trench foot, […]
Benefits: DOL Proposes Rules Clarifying COBRA Notice Requirements; What You Need to Know
For the first time since 1986, the U.S. Department of Labor has proposed new rules affecting the COBRA notice requirements. COBRA rules affect individuals’ rights to continue group health coverage under certain circumstances. For employers the consequences for not giving written notice in accordance with COBRA rules can be steep, including having to pay an […]
News Notes: EEOC Launches New Employer-Based Mediation Program, Investigations Web Page
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has announced the implementation of a voluntary mediation pilot program in which private-sector bias charges filed with the EEOC will be referred back to an employer’s internal dispute resolution program. To participate, the dispute resolution program must be voluntary and free to employees.
News Flash: Store Managers Win Multimillion-Dollar Overtime Settlement
Mervyn’s California has agreed to shell out $7.3 million to resolve overtime claims brought by 1,600 store managers who charged they were improperly classified as exempt from overtime. The managers contend they spent most of their time stocking shelves and performing other nonmanagerial duties. Mervyn’s previously agreed to pay $4 million to settle similar lawsuits […]
You’re the Expert: How can we train our managers and supervisors to avoid retaliation?
We had a serious discrimination and retaliation claim. The underlying claim got dismissed but the retaliation claim stuck. I think there’s another one in the offing. How can we train our managers and supervisors to avoid retaliation?
When Can an Employee View His or Her Payroll Records?
Emergency Heat Illness Rules Win Approval
Recently, Cal-OSHA submitted emergency regulations regarding workplace heat illness prevention. At an August 12 meeting of the Cal-OSHA Standards Board, the new rules won approval. The rules require the following: