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Compensation & Benefits

Women dominate state workforce, but still earn less than men

02/09/2011
In the wake of a recession that disproportionately caused job losses in male-dominated fields such as construction, Minnesota women are faring slightly better these days, according to new research by the nonprofit Independent Women’s Forum.

Understand Ohio unemployment comp: Breaking a rule isn’t enough to deny benefits

02/09/2011

You may think that discharging an employee for breaking a company rule automatically means that former employee won’t receive unemployment compensation in Ohio. But that’s not always the case. In fact, breaking a rule isn’t enough. Instead, the measure of whether you had just cause to fire the employee is whether an ordinary person would have done what the employee did under the same circumstances.

AK Steel settles, will pay more than $175 million to retirees

02/09/2011
AK Steel, based in West Chester outside Cincinnati, has settled a lawsuit brought by retirees after the company announced it would cut some retirees’ health benefits and begin charging premiums for others.

Avoiding pay complaints: 5 smart strategies

02/08/2011
The key to complying with the FLSA lies in accurate record-keeping. How you track hours is largely up to you, but you must beware several factors that can compromise wage-and-hour compliance. Here are five key strategies to help make sure you stay on the right side of the law.

How long must old paychecks remain ‘live’?

02/07/2011
Q. One of our employees has not cashed a paycheck that we issued to her several months ago. How long are we required to keep the paycheck active?

Does Texas require paid holiday time off?

02/07/2011
Q. Last year, Christmas fell on a Saturday, and one of my employees who normally works Monday through Friday asked me if he would receive an extra day of pay. Are Texas employers required to provide employees with certain paid holidays?

Can I ask about attendance without violating ADA?

02/07/2011
Q. When interviewing prospective employees, will I violate the ADA by asking how many days of work they missed during the past year at their prior jobs?

Humble drilling company to pay $580,000 in back OT

02/07/2011
Unit Texas Drilling has settled a DOL lawsuit that claimed the company stiffed 824 drillers, derrickmen and floor hands out of overtime wages they should have received. Now the company, based in Humble, will make good on its obligations under the FLSA—a total of $579,910.

Amtrak faces equal pay suit

02/04/2011
The EEOC is suing Amtrak for pay discrimination and retaliation, following allegations by a female HR manager in Pennsylvania that the railroad underpaid her because she is a woman.

Has the recession changed productivity expectations?

02/04/2011
A full 86% of U.S. executives say their company demands more time and commitment from employees now than when the recession began, according to Deloitte’s 2010 Ethics & Workplace Survey.