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Compensation & Benefits

COBRA strikes after benefits were continued

03/24/2015
Most employers know they must send a COBRA notice to terminated workers no longer covered by the company health plan. COBRA letters tell former employees they can continue their health insurance coverage for 18 months if they begin paying the entire premium, plus a small service fee. But what happens if the employee hasn’t been fired, but instead has been placed on an unpaid suspension pending possible discharge?

Obama administration publishes final rule on excepted benefits

03/23/2015
The U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury have published final rules to amend the definition of excepted benefits to include certain limited wraparound coverage for employees who buy health coverage in the private market, including through Affordable Care Act insurance exchanges.

What goes in a proper wage statement?

03/23/2015
Q. During the last pay period, after my California employees received their paychecks, a few of them asked me where the wage statement was. What information am I required to include in this statement?

What ‘notice-of-pay’ must new hires receive?

03/23/2015
Q. I recently hired new warehouse employees. Is there any information regarding their wage payment that I must present to them?

How much leave can workers take to attend their kids’ school activities?

03/23/2015
Q. One of my employees asked me if she could use a few hours of her personal time off to leave work early and attend her daughter’s grade school band recital. What’s the law on this?

What leave must we provide for em­­ployees who are victims of domestic violence?

03/23/2015
Q. An employee notified me that she was a victim of domestic violence and needs to take some time off work. What leave am I required to allow her?

More answers on California’s new Paid Sick Leave Law

03/23/2015
Employers are still adjusting to the requirements under California’s Paid Sick Leave Law. This month, we offer even more information to help you comply.

DOL cites Silicon Valley firm that paid $1.21 per hour

03/23/2015
San Jose-based Electronics for Imaging (EFI) will have to pay $40,156 to eight workers it brought in from India. A U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation found the company required workers to put in as many as 122 hours per week and paid as little as the equivalent of $1.21 per hour in Indian rupees.

New California unemployment insurance deadlines coming July 1

03/23/2015
Effective July 1, 2015, deadlines for reconsideration or appeal of unemployment insurance benefit rulings, determinations, computation or administrative law judge decisions will be extended from 20 days to 30 days.

Workers can be on-call during rest periods

03/23/2015

Under California law, employees must receive a rest break for every four hours worked and employers may not require employees to work during their breaks. But what about employees who are allowed to take breaks and do what they wish during that time but still have to respond to calls if necessary? In a recent case, security guards asked that question because they had to carry their radios during breaks in case they were suddenly needed.