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Compensation & Benefits

Beware potential new source of lawsuits: Lawyers try RICO in discrimination case

11/10/2008

Lawyers are always looking for novel ways to sue on behalf of employees. One such recent attempt involves trying to apply the RICO Act—originally meant to combat organized crime—against employers. If successful, such lawsuits could result in more than lost dollars: Managers and supervisors could go to jail.

New workers’ comp law stops double coverage for out-of-staters

11/10/2008

Senate Bill 334, which became Ohio law in October, eliminated a significant financial burden for roughly 40,000 Ohio employers that were paying workers’ compensation premiums twice to cover out-of-state workers.

Any way to demand repayment of health insurance premiums?

11/10/2008

Q. We have an employee who failed to return from an FMLA leave of absence. During the leave, we had been paying our customary share of her medical insurance premiums. Is there anything we can do to recoup the expenses we paid for this employee?

HR must step up as economy takes a tumble

11/10/2008

As the impact of the global economic crisis takes hold, a quarter of U.S. employers expect to make layoffs in the next 12 months—if they haven’t already done so. However, most companies are focusing on increased employee communication and smaller cost-saving measures.

How old are your employees’ covered dependents?

11/10/2008

At least 30 states require organizations that offer health benefits to employees’ dependents to include children up to age 30—and the number is growing. They are reacting to the growing number of young adults who do not have health insurance.

HR and the bailout: Bill includes key mental health coverage

11/10/2008

The massive $700 billion financial rescue bill that President Bush signed into law on Oct. 3 contained dozens of measures that have nothing to do with bailing out Wall Street or shoring up credit markets. Among them: long-awaited legislation that bans health insurers from imposing stricter limits on coverage for mental health and substance-use conditions than those set for other health problems.

Home delivery of prescriptions boosts compliance

11/10/2008

Your employees are more likely to take their prescribed medicine and choose generics over more expensive name-brand drugs if they have prescriptions delivered to their homes, two new studies show.

Who pays for unauthorized treatments?

11/10/2008

Q. We have an employee who has had several work-related injuries. Our workers’ compensation insurance carrier, after reviewing the circumstances of the employee’s injuries, has denied her any treatment for a back injury. Even so, she has gone to a chiropractor for treatment 60 times. Her attorney has now filed a petition for benefits with the Judge of Compensation Claims. It seeks authorization for the visits and asks our company and the carrier to pay for all 60 chiropractor visits. If the judge determines that these visits are authorized, are we going to have to pay for all of them?

Warn managers: No negative comments on FMLA

11/10/2008

Anxiety about the economy and job prospects may adversely affect some employees, especially those prone to stress-related illnesses or whose physical problems flare up when working long hours. As a result, you may see an increase in requests for FMLA leave. Be careful not to criticize employees for trying to exercise their FMLA rights …

Use the calendar-year method to tame the intermittent FMLA leave beast

11/10/2008

Employees who take intermittent leave can wreak havoc with work schedules. Because their conditions can flare up at any time, their absences are by nature unpredictable. But there are ways you can legally curtail intermittent leave. One way is to use the calendar-year method to set FMLA leave eligibility.