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Compensation & Benefits

That’s a lot of bread! Bimbo to settle for $3.75 million

03/19/2010
Current and former drivers of Bimbo Bakeries USA who sued the company for allegedly breaking California’s meal and rest break laws are now offering to settle for $3.75 million. In the original action, drivers also charged Bimbo Bakeries with violating the Fair Labor Standards Act by failing to pay them overtime.

Trying to save on workers’ comp, temp firm now owes $20 million

03/19/2010
Staffing Services, a temp agency, must pay $20 million in restitution to resolve a workers’ compensation insurance fraud case recently heard in a Los Angeles court. The $20 million was a bargain. The defendants originally faced up to 24 years in state prison, in addition to another $40 million in fines.

Excuse disabled worker from strict attendance rules–but demand doctor’s note

03/19/2010
Employees with multiple medical problems may need to be off work at unpredictable times. That can be a problem if a no-fault attendance policy requires terminating an employee with too many absences. If you don’t want to fire an otherwise good worker, it’s perfectly reasonable to accommodate him by excusing him from the attendance policy—as long as he can provide a doctor’s note.

Insist on medical leave as accommodation if disabled worker can’t return to full duty

03/19/2010
Some disabled employees seem to believe they can get whatever accommodation they want. That’s not true. In reality, California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act gives employers great leeway to choose accommodations that suit their businesses. That can include telling the employee to take medical leave until she is well enough to return.

You don’t have to pay for family leave unless your employees accrue sick leave

03/19/2010
The California Supreme Court has ruled that employers that don’t have a formal sick-leave accrual policy don’t have to pay employees for leave they take to care for a family member. So-called “kin-care” benefits apply only if employees earn sick leave over the course of their employment.

California leads nation on Fortune ‘best companies’ list

03/19/2010
Sixteen of the firms on Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list are headquartered in California, the most in the nation. Texas came in second on the Fortune list, with 13 companies.

Pay the minimum or more? Broad tip pools OK

03/19/2010
The FLSA has complicated rules for employers that pay less than the minimum wage to staff who receive tips. If tips aren’t large enough, then the employer has to top off the wages so the employee makes at least minimum wage. But what happens if the employer pays the customarily tipped employee minimum wage or more right from the start? That’s the question the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals recently answered for the first time.

Base health communication strategies on 5 behavioral quirks

03/19/2010

When researchers at HR consulting giant Towers Watson were compiling new stats on 2010 employer health care costs, they uncovered some fascinating findings from the world of behavioral economics that innovative employers are applying to their health communication efforts. As you look for ways to encourage employees to be active, informed consumers of the health benefits you offer, see how many you can incorporate into your own communication plans.

Babies at work: Morale boost or productivity buster?

03/18/2010

The number of organizations with a babies-at-work benefit has more than doubled to 130 in the past two years, says the Parenting in the Workplace Institute. The key: Set clear guidelines. Find tips for creating a policy at www.theHRSpecialist.com/babies.

Even with economy on the mend, comp & benefits will lag

03/17/2010

We’ve all heard the good news about the economy: that the recession is crawling to a resolution and things will slowly get back to normal. Most of the executives I know don’t believe it. Now that we have reduced our workforces, frozen salaries, eliminated bonuses and suspended 401(k) matches, the question remains: When the recovery does occur, is any of that going to change?