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Compensation & Benefits

Feel free to deny FMLA leave to employee who alters medical certification

05/11/2009

One of the biggest problems with the FMLA has always been the certification process. Until recently, employers weren’t allowed to call a health care provider whose form looked suspicious or whose diagnosis sounded suspect. Now, fortunately, employers can at least call the medical provider to ask whether the information on the form is accurate and get clarification on any unclear parts.

What are the FMLA eligibility rules for employees who leave and then come back?

05/11/2009

Q.  We have an employee who has worked for us for just six months. However, three years ago, she worked for us for about a year before quitting and going back to school. Now she has requested time off under the FMLA. Is she eligible?

How brief a time increment must we use when granting FMLA intermittent leave?

05/11/2009

Q. An employee has requested one hour of unpaid intermittent FMLA leave. Can we require him to use up a half or full day of leave instead?

How can we save on payroll but still have employees work their full schedules?

05/11/2009

Q. We are having trouble making payroll and have asked our employees to give up pay for 20 hours per month while they work their regular schedules. Can we do this?

OK to factor in truthfulness when disciplining

05/11/2009

Sometimes, it isn’t the rule violation that makes a supervisor want to fire an employee, but the way the employee responds when confronted. Some will lie and deny what turns out to be obviously true. Others may ’fess up. You can leniently treat those who do the right thing, while punishing the others.

Latest IRS COBRA guidance has some surprises for employers

05/06/2009

Employers now have an answer to their single biggest and most vexing question about the elaborate new federal subsidy arrangement under COBRA, but it may not be the answer they were hoping for or expecting.

New York ranks 46th on business tax index

05/06/2009

New York finished better than just four states in the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council’s (SBEC) Business Tax Index for 2009. The SBEC annually assesses the tax climates for business and entrepreneurs in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Support exempt decisions with job analysis

05/06/2009

If an employee asks to be reclassified from nonexempt to exempt, make sure you carefully look at her position to determine her proper classification. If you have a legitimate reason for your classification decision, chances are she won’t be able to win a claim that you discriminated when you refused to reclassify her as an exempt employee.

Houston, we have a problem: $2.5 million for OT violations

05/06/2009

A Houston manufacturing company has paid $1.6 million in back wages to 1,751 employees after a federal investigation revealed the company violated the federal overtime labor law.

Minor adjustments: How to comply with federal teen labor rules

05/05/2009

Your risk of running afoul of the child labor laws has increased, and penalties can be harsh. A recent government study found a surprisingly high percentage of teen employees working longer hours than federal law allows, and also in jobs deemed too dangerous by law. Now, federal and state safety investigators are more interested than ever in child labor compliance.