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Compensation & Benefits

Commercial pilots claim FAA retirement plan violates state law

06/16/2010
When Congress raised commercial pilots’ mandatory retirement age from 60 to 65, not all pilots were pleased. Pilots who had previously been forced to retire at age 60 weren’t grandfathered into the new system. Now the pilots are seeking back pay and lost wages under state laws and the Federal Tort Claims Act.

The HR I.Q. Test: June ’10

06/16/2010
Test your knowledge of recent trends in employment law, comp & benefits and other HR issues with our monthly mini-quiz …

37 ways to lower your health care costs

06/15/2010
Average employer-paid health benefit costs have increased about 6% per year for the last five years. At least in the short term, the new health care reform law may make the problem even worse. All the more reason to act now to get your health care costs under control. Here are 37 strategies worth trying.

Day care centers boost modest pay with big bonus

06/15/2010
For teachers who earn just $12 to $25 an hour, a chance to win a $10,000 bonus is a big deal. That’s how much CCLC Child Care Centers hands out yearly to each five teachers who win its “Educator Award.” The awards are a way for the Portland, Ore.-based organization to thank and encourage the modestly paid faculty of its 112 centers.

Make sure employees–and bosses and HR–know exactly how to call in FMLA absences

06/14/2010
Make sure your entire staff is on the same page when it comes to responding to FMLA requests. Decide on a contact person and set a policy that lets all employees know. Create a log for recording all incoming FMLA communications. Remember, certifications may come directly from medical providers, who are likely to use fax or mail delivery.

New tool when employees defect to competition: bonus forfeiture

06/14/2010
Employers looking to discourage their employees from going to work for a competitor, take note! As a general matter, courts aren’t in favor of noncompete agreements. Nevertheless, Illinois employers may now have a new weapon to keep employees from taking your secrets when they leave.

Court tossed class-action suit? Your legal worries aren’t over yet

06/14/2010

Here’s more incentive to pay close attention to your compensation practices: Wage-and-hour lawsuits can easily morph into collective actions in which a few employees represent all similarly situated employees. Even if an employer manages to persuade the court that the claims aren’t suitable for a collective action, that doesn’t mean the case is over.

DOL clarifies age for continuing coverage for employees’ adult children

06/14/2010
The U.S. Department of Labor has answered a seemingly simple question that vexed many Washington insiders for months: Under the new health care reform law, what is the age limit for employees’ adult children to be eligible for coverage under a parent’s group health plan?

When must you pay interns? DOL aims to clarify controversial question by issuing new guidance

06/14/2010
As we told you last month, the DOL and many state agencies are cracking down on employers that illegally fail to pay their interns. Now the DOL has published “Fact Sheet #71: Internship Programs Under The Fair Labor Standards Act” that helps clarify employers’ obligations.

Software employees get $50 for fitness each month

06/11/2010

The mission of Mindbody Inc., in San Luis Obispo, Calif., is to leverage technology “to improve the health and wellness of the world,” says Marketing Director Meg McCall. That’s why execs of the software company encourage the organization’s 175 employees to stay fit. The firm gives every employee a $50 voucher each month to spend on gym memberships or other fitness-related activities.