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Compensation & Benefits

When religious needs conflict with schedule, shift swaps may be reasonable accommodation

11/25/2009

Many employers make it easy for employees to swap shifts if they consider their hours undesirable or inconvenient. Employers may do this by preparing the schedule well ahead of time and posting it where employees can easily see it. That makes it easy for management to know who is swapping with whom and to approve swaps arranged between employees. A shift-swap policy may also be all you need to win a religious accommodation lawsuit.

Open books show how staff aid firm’s success

11/24/2009

Every employee of Anthony Wilder Design/Build near Washington, D.C., has an educated opinion about the small firm’s finances—because the owners hired a coach to teach them about business finance. The firm’s founders have opened the remodeling company’s books to employees so they can see the bottom-line impact of their work and their decisions.

Is paid ‘paternity leave’ required?

11/24/2009

Q. I run a small company with fewer than 50 employees.  I was recently approached by a male employee requesting “paternity leave.”  Must I provide him paid or unpaid leave upon the birth of his newborn child?

What are my options? Employee’s on jury duty

11/24/2009

Q. One of my employees was called to jury duty and assigned to a lengthy trial. What are my obligations to this employee? Do I have to grant paid leave? May I permanently replace the employee if I cannot afford to hold the position open?

HR on Capitol Hill: Specter flips on same-sex marriage

11/23/2009

Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania’s senior senator, switched parties from Republican to Democrat in April, and now he’s changed his mind about the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). His support for pending legislation to repeal DOMA, which limits federal government recognition of same-sex marriage, could be crucial—and could affect HR.

Looking for energy savings, Utah wound up trimming OT

11/23/2009

When the government of Utah decided to close state offices on Fridays last year, officials hoped to save $3 million in utility costs. Actual savings: $500,000. But that missed projection was more than balanced by an unexpected benefit: a $4.1 million reduction in overtime pay for state employees.

May we pay comp time instead of overtime?

11/23/2009

Q. We are a private employer. Can we avoid paying overtime to our hourly employees by giving them comp time?

Washington weighs in on executive compensation

11/20/2009

Overheard on Oct. 22, the day the Obama administration set strict limits on executive compensation at seven financial services firms and car manufacturers that have yet to repay federal TARP bailout funds:

No day at the spa: Union-owned resort to close

11/20/2009

The Konocti Harbor Resort and Spa, a Kelseyville resort owned by Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 38, will close. The announcement came two years after Local 38 agreed to sell the resort under a DOL consent decree filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to settle charges that the union diverted $36 million from pension plans to operate and renovate Konocti.

Injured on the way to work: Does our employee have a workers’ comp claim?

11/20/2009

Q. One of our employees was hurt while driving a company car on her morning commute to work. Would this be considered a workers’ compensation claim?