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Compensation & Benefits

Stanley University offers round-the-clock training

02/11/2009

IT firm Stanley Associates has its own, round-the-clock web-based training university for employees. Stanley University offers employees more than 3,500 courses in technology, business skills, time management, writing and other skills.

Survival-mode comp strategies could be good for business

02/11/2009

Smart compensation pros can use this recession as an opportunity to re-evaluate how they pay employees. Here are four recession-smart compensation strategies that you might decide to continue even after the economy rebounds.

4 tips to gain office-bound employees’ buy-in for telework

02/11/2009

New research shows there may be a hidden downside to telecommuting policies: They may cause non-telecommuters to leave their jobs. To accommodate the broader impact of telecommuting on others in the office—and stave off any negative effects—experts advise taking a fresh look at your telecommuting efforts.

Employees dozing at the desk? Offer them pillows

02/11/2009

If the worrisome economy is keeping your employees up at night, offering them a place to nap during the afternoon could help them get their work done. Nearly 30% of employees admit they have fallen asleep on the job, and 12% say fatigue has made them late for work, according to a National Sleep Foundation poll.

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

02/06/2009

HR Law 101: On Jan. 29, 2009, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act took effect, making it easier for women and others to sue for pay discrimination that may date back decades. The law, retroactive to May 2007, liberalizes statutes of limitations on when employees can file such lawsuits. 

Be on guard for age discrimination suit if older worker offers to work for less

02/05/2009

Older employees who learn they might be laid off for economic reasons—especially those who have recently spoken with an employment lawyer—have begun trying an interesting tactic: They’re volunteering to work for less pay. Take those offers seriously.

Economic stimulus package targets HR issues

02/03/2009

Amid tens of billions of dollars for roads and bridges, industry bailouts and job creation, the massive economic stimulus legislation passed by the House of Representatives last week would throw significant funding at a variety of HR-related programs and initiatives.

New tax break encourages subsidized bicycle commuting

02/02/2009

Don’t be surprised if your employees who are bicycling enthusiasts approach HR about a bicycle commuting benefit recently passed into federal law. The Bicycle Commuter Act allows employers of every size to deduct the cost of subsidizing bicycle commuting from their federal taxes.

Do we have to defend a third party whose negligence caused our worker’s injury?

02/02/2009

Q. One of our employees was badly injured when he tripped over equipment that had been left by our office building’s maintenance workers. Workers’ comp covered his medical bills and lost wages, but he also sued the building’s owners for negligence. Now we have a letter from the owners demanding that we defend them in the lawsuit and telling us we are responsible. How can that be? I thought we were protected by workers’ comp.

What time off counts for the purpose of FMLA intermittent leave?

02/02/2009

Q. I told an employee who takes lots of FMLA intermittent leave that all his time out of the office (no matter what it was for) would count against his FMLA time. My VP told me I was wrong and that was absolutely not the law. Who is right?