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Compensation & Benefits

The new FMLA: 9 changes you must comply with

12/02/2008

For the past 15 years, complying with the FMLA has been complex, but at least the law stayed the same. On Jan. 16, that all changed. That’s the day the first major overhaul of the FMLA took effect. Here are the details.

HR technology: Shortcuts to find the best vendors, products

12/02/2008

Say your CEO tasks you with cutting HR department costs. You know technology can help slay that cost dragon, but you have no idea where to start. Instead of combing through hundreds of vendor web sites, use these nonbiased resources to search for the right HR tech products.

Office gifts: From weird to wonderful

12/02/2008

Santa’s not the only one delivering presents this holiday season. Nearly eight out of 10 executives say some form of gift giving occurs in their offices. But it’s not all bottles of wine and Target gift cards out there. Read on for some of the weirdest gifts that ever sat under the office tree … and some good ones too.

Stress test: 9 questions to find out if you’re a victim or a master

12/02/2008

Everyone’s stressed these days—whether from financial worries or just the looming holidays. Some thrive on stress, but for others it’s an emotional and productivity drain. Here’s a simple self-assessment you can do to gauge your stress level—and do something about it.

Wellness goes extreme: scuba, sailing, mountain climbing

11/25/2008

In a bid to improve employees’ fitness and reduce health costs, some U.S. employers are going far beyond subsidizing health-club fees or hosting lunchtime walking clubs. They’re taking their wellness initiatives to the edge. Three examples …

$33 million Smith Barney sex-bias settlement approved

11/25/2008

A federal district court judge recently approved a $33 million settlement reached between Citigroup and female financial advisors in its Smith Barney unit.

Court: Local governments can create benefit-spending requirements

11/25/2008

Many California employers are viewing a recent decision by a federal appeals court as a setback. The court upheld the right of local governments to pass ordinances that essentially force employers to provide a certain level of funding for employee benefits.

Corzine signs bills reforming workers’ compensation system

11/25/2008

Gov. Jon Corzine has signed a package of workers’ compensation reform bills that should make the state’s system more efficient and more responsive to the needs of employers and workers. The legislation is comprised of five bills.

$2.8 million will cover Kmart settlement; attorneys are extra

11/25/2008

Judge Otis Wright II of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California recently approved a $2.8 million settlement between retailer Kmart and workers who claimed they were not compensated for meal and rest breaks.

Retirees who take lump sum still have standing to sue

11/25/2008

Don’t think that employees who take their retirement benefits in a lump sum can’t sue for alleged fiduciary breaches. A recent federal appeals court decision says although retirees are not technically employees anymore, they still have standing to sue …