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Compensation & Benefits

Are employee assistance programs required?

07/18/2008

Q. I understand that many companies offer employee assistance programs (EAPs) as an added benefit for employees who may have drug or alcohol abuse problems. Are we required by law to do so? …

‘Utilization review’ is exclusive way to challenge treatment

07/18/2008
The California Supreme Court has ruled that there is only one way for employers to challenge the medical treatment injured workers and their doctors want to pursue. All challenges must use a process created by the California Legislature called “utilization review.”

We’d like to help an employee who may be a domestic violence victim

07/18/2008

Q. We suspect that one of our employees is a victim of domestic violence. What are the leave requirements for domestic violence under California law? …

Recoup training costs, but beware doing so with last paycheck

07/18/2008
Employers can and should get applicants and employees to agree to pay back training costs if they depart before the company gets fair value. But collecting the money can be tricky. You can’t, for example, withhold the money out of a final paycheck if that move takes the employee’s hourly wage below the minimum allowed by law …

Albertsons settles final-Paycheck lawsuit, will pay $15 million

07/18/2008
California employees of several supermarkets and drug stores will receive their share of a $15 million settlement in a class-action wage suit. Approximately 200,000 employees of Albertsons, Lucky Stores and Sav-On Drugs will each receive up to $350 if their employment ended between Sept. 29, 1996, and Dec. 31, 2004 …

Bill would give private-Sector employees access to CalPERS

07/18/2008
The California State Assembly has passed a bill that would allow private-sector employees who don’t have employer-based pension plans to open individual retirement savings accounts with the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) …

Holiday premium isn’t the basis for overtime calculation

07/18/2008
Good news for California employers that pay their employees time-and-a-half for holiday work: You don’t have to cough up additional pay for overtime hours worked on a holiday …

Santa Clara firm fined for not accommodating lactating mom

07/18/2008
A Silicon Valley security services company has been fined $4,000 for failing to provide a private space for one of its employees to express breast milk. California regulators fined International Security Services, based in Santa Clara, after receiving a complaint from a new mother …

Same-sex marriage: What the trend means for employers and HR

07/17/2008

No federal law mandates that employees who are in state-sanctioned same-sex unions must receive the same employee benefits that heterosexual married couples receive. But the writing is on the wall. And even employers in states that ban same-sex unions may find themselves targeted by advocates for greater benefits … 

Must we offer EAP services to those on COBRA?

07/17/2008
Q. Currently, we offer our employee assistance program (EAP) to those who elect COBRA coverage. But are we required by law to offer the EAP to COBRA participants? This is the first time I’ve seen a company offer an EAP through  COBRA. Participants pay $3.08 plus a 2% administrative fee if they elect. — T.A., Maryland …