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Compensation & Benefits

Attendance policies: Control absenteeism without breaking the law

01/05/2009

Regular attendance is a key job function for most of your employees. But while you are free to set and enforce attendance rules, you must also comply with key federal laws, including the FMLA and the ADA …

Absent genuine doubt, grant FMLA care request

01/05/2009

Here’s a risk you’ll run into if you refuse to let an employee take time off to care for a child she says has a serious health condition that requires her care: If you guess wrong and the case goes to trial, it’s up to the jury to decide whether the child’s condition rose to the serious level.

New FMLA regulations and military leave: What you need to know

01/05/2009

New FMLA regulations go into effect on Jan. 16. Employers must become familiar with these changes and adjust their policies accordingly. Here’s a summary of some of the most important changes to the FMLA.

Can we demand a second opinion on fitness for duty after FMLA leave?

01/05/2009

Q. We have an employee returning from a leave taken under the FMLA. His physician has issued a fitness-for-duty certificate. However, we question the worker’s ability to perform his old job because the length of his absence was too short for him to recover completely. Also, the fitness-for-duty certificate simply states that he is “able” to work, without addressing his specific job duties. Can we send him to another physician for a second fitness-for-duty examination?

Appeal to 50+ staff with tailored benefits, relevant messages

01/05/2009

Organizations that appeal most to employees age 50 and older make it a point to focus recruiting efforts on that group. And they stuff their benefits packages with perks that help older employees balance work with caregiving responsibilities. Here are five best practices your organization can adopt.

Firms to freeze pension benefits, rethink investments

01/05/2009

At least 40% of organizations are likely to freeze or change their pension benefits because of the recession, a new poll reveals.

Disabled former employees can’t recover benefits under ADA unless they seek rehire

01/05/2009

In a common-sense decision, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that former employees who are disabled cannot sue their former employers under the ADA to recover retirement benefits that were reduced because they received Social Security disability payments from the federal government.

Accepting early retirement incentive may end lawsuit

01/05/2009

Employees who have pending lawsuits against their employers may be among a group of employees who receive early retirement offers that are part of downsizing initiatives. If litigious employees accept such a buyout offer, they may lose their standing in their lawsuits.

Must we compensate for travel time?

01/05/2009

Q. I have an employee who has a substantial daily commute—75 miles each way. Do I have to compensate the employee for time spent traveling to and from work?

What are the child labor rules?

01/05/2009

Q. I own a pizza shop. Is it legal for me to hire a 15-year-old to work in the store?