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Compensation & Benefits

New civil-union law means employers must make decisions

02/11/2011
Illinois’ new civil-union law—which gives new rights to same-sex and opposite-sex couples—goes into effect on June 1. It says couples united in civil unions are “entitled to the same legal obligations, responsibilities, protections and benefits as are afforded or recognized by the law of Illinois to spouses….”

$1.3 million due from O’Hare contractor that stiffed workers

02/11/2011

If your organization performs work for the federal government, consider this case a warning: A company that provides ground transportation services at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport has settled charges it failed to pay prevailing wages to its employees as required by federal contracting rules.

Warn bosses: Don’t speculate on injury costs

02/11/2011
We all know that employers’ workers’ compensation insurance premiums go up when someone gets hurt at work and starts collecting workers’ comp. But that’s no reason to treat a worker who is returning from an injury any differently than you treat others.

The HR I.Q. Test: February ’11

02/11/2011
Test your knowledge of recent trends in employment law, comp & benefits and other HR issues with our monthly mini-quiz …

Injured employee may have returned too soon: Can we require him to take more leave?

02/10/2011
Q. We’re afraid that a previously injured worker returned from medical leave too soon. Can we require him to take additional leave if it’s obvious that the injury is still hurting his job performance?

Must we prorate bonuses for employees who missed work while out on FMLA leave?

02/09/2011
Q. Many of our employees are eligible for a bonus at the end of each year if they meet specific yearly sales goals. Are we required to prorate the bonus for employees who fail to meet their goals because they took FMLA leave during the year?

St. Paul cancer victim’s case may show ADAAA’s impact

02/09/2011
The tragic case of a St. Paul nurse who died of cancer may soon test the reach of the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act, now that the EEOC has filed a lawsuit alleging that her employer violated the law by refusing to accommodate her disability.

Follow federal FLSA rules to pay for ‘donning & doffing’

02/09/2011
Good news for Minnesota employers that have been worried about how to pay employees for the time they spend putting on and taking off protective clothing before and after their shifts: Paying overtime as required by federal law generally means no additional payment is due under Minnesota law.

Make sure employees record all hours they work

02/09/2011
Do you have an hourly employee who seems to be getting a tremendous amount of work done? Make sure she isn’t skipping breaks.

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.