Tag: compliance

HR’s Response to Leave Issues? Bewilderment

“In all the jurisdictions I’ve practiced in, the general reaction to leave issues is bewilderment,” says Attorney Matthew Effland. In a recent presentation at SHRM’s Annual Conference and Exposition in Chicago, Effland clarified the particularly confusing issue of military leave.

When is a Chronic Illness a Disability?

An employee with chronic illness may actually be an employee with a disability. If so, this triggers all the rights and responsibilities outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). As such, employers need to be cognizant that an employee requesting leave to handle an aspect of a chronic illness may actually be entitled to […]

Why CFOs Do Not Trust HR and What to Do

Special from Chicago—SHRM Annual Conference and Exposition CFOs are often reclusive and cautious, and HR avoids them in general and knows little about them, says consultant Karl J. Ahlrichs, SPHR. But HR isn’t going to be successful without being able to sell ideas to the CFO. Why is the relationship with the CFO so important? […]

Good Boundaries to Make for Good PTO Policies

Yesterday’s Advisor featured tricky PTO policy questions from Attorney Katherine Marques. Today, we present her key success factors for PTO, plus we introduce the best way to find compliance violations—before the feds do. Marques, an associate in the New York office of Holland & Knight LLP, offered her PTO tips at a recent webinar sponsored […]

The 11 Questions Your PTO Policy Must Answer

We all love PTO because it’s easier to administer than separate time-off policies, but there are many issues to be clarified before your program runs smoothly and avoids lawsuits, says Attorney Katherine Marques. Unfortunately, to complicate matters, many state laws (and some city laws) cover sick time and/or vacation time, so proceed with caution, says […]

11 Questions to Answer for Your PTO Policy

PTO policies are considered easier to administer than separate vacation, sick, child care, etc., but there are many policy issues to be decided before your program runs smoothly and avoids lawsuits, says attorney Katherine Marques. Unfortunately, to complicate matters, many state laws (and some city laws) cover sick time and/or vacation time, so proceed with […]

Key Factors that Make PTO Work

Yesterday’s Advisor featured attorney Katherine Marques’ 11 questions to ask in designing a PTO policy. Today, she shares key success factors for PTO, plus we introduce the all-HR-in-one-place website, HR.BLR.com®. Marques, an associate in the New York office of Holland & Knight LLP, offered her tips at a recent webinar sponsored by BLR® and HR […]

$88 Million in Bonuses!

How do you show employees that you are thankful for their hard work? How about handing out $88 million in bonuses! Alaska Air Group paid annual bonuses totaling nearly a month’s pay to nearly 13,000 employees for exceeding the company’s 2012 operational and financial goals. The bonus of about 8 percent of annual pay is […]

What the FMLA Requires for Pregnant Employees

Yesterday’s Advisor covered the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA); today, what the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires for pregnant employees plus an introduction to the guide many call the “FMLA Bible.” The PDA applies regardless of how long an employee has worked for you. The FMLA, however, has more eligibility requirements but also more […]

What to Expect When Your Employee Is Expecting? Pregnancy Discrimination

Pregnancy discrimination charges and lawsuits continue to rise, and no surprise—Many managers still hold out-moded ideas of how to treat pregnant employees, and that’s a recipe for your organization’s next lawsuit. “All pregnant employees should stop work 30 days before their due dates.” “Pregnant women should stay out 6 weeks after the birth.” “I’m not […]