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Insurance

You can’t force employee to use paid time if on disability

04/01/2007

If you require employees to use accumulated sick leave, vacation time or other paid leave when they’re out on FMLA leave, be aware of a little-known trap: If that employee also is receiving payments through a disability plan, you can’t force the person to use up his or her accumulated paid leave …

Genetic discrimination bill takes another step in Congress

04/01/2007

A committee of the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation last month that would ban employers from collecting genetic information from employees and applicants and prohibit the use of genetic tests when making employment decisions …

Planning for a pandemic flu: Is your organization prepared?

04/01/2007

After preparing for Y2K, anthrax and hurricanes, HR and legal professionals must now turn their attention to pandemic planning …

Worker fails to give FMLA proof? Cut ‘Em loose

04/01/2007

Q. One of our employees had been out sick for two months. We’ve received a doctor’s note that just says he’s unable to work and that a return date is undetermined. We faxed and mailed FMLA paperwork, but it hasn’t been returned. Meanwhile, the employee is receiving disability benefits through our short-term disability plan. How do we calculate the start of FMLA leave? From the date the disability payment began? And if we never get the FMLA paperwork back, can we terminate him? — T.B., Tennessee

Independent contractor or employee? Your control over duties, schedule is the key

04/01/2007

If your organization hires temporary workers to perform specific tasks for a set fee, don’t assume you automatically can declare them as independent contractors rather than employees …

Employee injured at a work-Related conference can qualify for workers’ comp benefits

04/01/2007

If employees are injured while traveling to or attending a work-related conference, they’re probably entitled to workers’ compensation benefits …

Study: N.Y. workers’ comp system is rife with employer cheating

04/01/2007

New York employers are cheating the state workers’ compensation system to the tune of $500 million to $1 billion a year, according to estimates in a Fiscal Policy Institute (FPI) study …

Compare health care premiums by region on new federal database

04/01/2007

Ever wonder how your health care costs stack up against those of employers in other parts of the country? You can find out by accessing the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s database …

If you handle insurance enrollment, be alert to liability for lost, late paperwork

04/01/2007

When employers assume substantial benefit-administration duties, they may be liable when the proper paperwork doesn’t get to where it should. Because federal law imposes a fiduciary obligation on benefit administrators, employers may be sued when they assume the administrator’s role …

Opted out of workers’ comp system? Be careful of verbal authorizations

04/01/2007

If your organization has opted not to participate in the Texas workers’ compensation system, but you still authorize treatment for work-related injuries, make sure you track how and when you give employees permission to seek treatment …