• The HR Specialist - Print Newsletter
  • HR Specialist: Employment Law
  • The HR Weekly

Compensation & Benefits

California cities rated among best for working mothers

08/23/2010
Six California metropolitan areas ranked in the top 50 on Forbes magazine’s 2010 list of the nation’s best cities for working mothers. Forbes rated the cities against criteria that considered women’s income, cost of living, availability of pediatricians, safety, employment opportunities and spending on education.

Have lawyer review California wage statements

08/23/2010

California is a great state—for employees who want to sue their employers. Even the wage statements employees get with their paychecks can lead to lawsuits. Advice: Have your attorney take a look at those pay stubs to make sure they comply with California wage-and-hour laws.

Gen Y: Different priorities

08/23/2010

As you plan for recovery, know your twentysomethings. Members of Gen Y value on-site dry-cleaning, fitness centers and cafeterias more than a good 401(k) plan. By contrast, Gen X’ers and baby boomers want bonuses and 401(k) matches.

Hiring independent contractors? Let them work for others, too

08/19/2010
If you use independent contractors, make sure they have the freedom to work for other clients and largely set their own schedules. Those criteria are important for determining whether someone is an “employee” and, thus, eligible for unemployment.

What are the new regulations on paying for time employees spend changing clothes?

08/18/2010
Q. How has the recent DOL interpretation letter addressed an employer’s obligation to pay employees for time spent changing clothes?

What are the rules for flexible spending accounts under the new health reform law?

08/18/2010
Q. How do the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 and the Health Care and Education Tax Credits Reconciliation Act of 2010 (collectively known as the PPACA) affect health flexible spending accounts?

Does the FMLA apply when an employee has to care for a child she isn’t related to?

08/18/2010
Q. We have an employee who cares for a child but does not have a legal or biological relationship to the child. The employee wants to take a child-related leave under the FMLA. Is she eligible?

Require strict compliance with FMLA certification rules

08/18/2010
Want to stop FMLA abuse? Then get strict about enforcing your certification requirements. There’s no reason employees should be allowed to simply say they need FMLA leave. Instead, make them turn in certifications within tight deadlines.

Don’t automatically approve FMLA leave for elective or cosmetic surgery

08/18/2010

Elective surgery that isn’t medically necessary may not be eligible for FMLA leave because the employee having the procedure may not be suffering from a serious health condition. Challenge such leave requests by asking for the second and third certifications that the FMLA allows.

Military leave starts Tuesday: Pay for full week?

08/18/2010
Q. One of our exempt employees is in the Reserve. He is going on a two-week training session that starts on a Tuesday. That means he will work on Monday, the start of our week. Do we have to pay him for the whole week when he is only going to be here Monday?