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Compensation & Benefits

5 survival tips: Seek employee help to weather the recession

05/20/2008
It’s not easy for employees to hear that economic tough times mean they’re not getting a pay raise or that their jobs are in jeopardy. Having to deliver the bad news may be almost as hard. Here are five ways to make the most of a difficult situation—and invite employees to be part of the solution.

Were professors moonlighting across time zones?

05/19/2008
Two married professors at Georgia Tech are under investigation for fraud and theft after the university discovered they had taken jobs at the University of Minnesota (U of M) while continuing to collect paychecks from Georgia Tech …

Higher pay for LAX hotel workers as ‘Living wage’ law stands

05/16/2008
Hotels near Los Angeles International Airport will have to begin offering higher pay. The California Supreme Court has declined to review an appeals court decision upholding a city ordinance that requires the hotels to pay its workers the city’s living-wage rate …

Moonlighting may not disqualify employee from CFRA leave

05/16/2008
Do you have employees who work for you full time, but also work elsewhere part time? If so, a recent California Supreme Court decision may affect how you handle requests for California Family Rights Act (CFRA) leave …

What’s this we heard about a California military family leave law?

05/16/2008

Q. We recently learned that a new law was passed allowing the spouses of military personnel to take unpaid leave. Is this true? …

Burden on employer to justify exempt/Nonexempt classification

05/16/2008
When deciding on whether an employee is exempt or hourly, be prepared to justify why you classified an employee into the category you did. If you have any doubts about classification, seek out professional help. Getting it wrong can get very expensive, especially if you have incorrectly classified an entire group, and a court allows a class- or collective-action claim …

Reality check: TV producers face overtime claims

05/16/2008
Several workers from popular reality television shows have filed wage-and-hour claims with the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, according to the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) …

Pyramid Breweries drafts $1.3 million settlement

05/16/2008
Seattle-based Pyramid Breweries has agreed to pay $1.3 million to settle a lawsuit brought by an employee claiming that employees at three Northern California brew pubs were denied meal and rest breaks …

Paying for insurance while on disability

05/15/2008

Q. We have an employee who is currently on short-term disability (STD) and is approaching long-term disability (LTD). Our company pays 95% of medical insurance premiums and 100% of STD and LTD premiums. The employee is no longer receiving a salary. Does our company have to continue to provide and pay for medical insurance? — K.M., Arizona …

Putting employee on FMLA leave: Who decides?

05/15/2008
Q. I’m confused about medical certifications and employees who don’t want to use FMLA leave. Can I, if I believe the employee is out for an FMLA condition, force him to take FMLA leave? — A. B., Florida …