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Compensation & Benefits

What are ADA requirements for accommodating depression and psychiatric disabilities?

01/01/2008
Q. If a worker complains that he or she is depressed and needs time off, do I have a duty under the ADA to give the worker leave?

5 trends will shape compensation & benefits in 2008

01/01/2008

You’re probably under pressure to reduce benefits costs as your organization tries to remain competitive in the marketplace. But don’t neglect your competitiveness in the race to attract and retain the best employees. They’re probably looking for even better benefits to offset static pay raises. Five key issues are emerging in 2008 for compensation and benefits professionals …

Options help Xerox staff cope with illness

01/01/2008

When illness strikes a family member, worry and stress can hurt job performance. Xerox helps employees manage complex diagnoses with a patient advocacy program …

Wellness program: Can you require employees to join?

01/01/2008

A “perfect storm” of an aging work force, escalating health care costs, more obese and sedentary employees and a looming shortage of skilled workers could drive organizations to make their wellness programs mandatory within a few years …

Employers—Not employees—Choose ADA accommodation

01/01/2008

Sometimes disabled employees and their employers have different views of the accommodations needed to do their jobs. Fortunately, it’s up to the employer, not the employee, to pick the accommodation. Simply put, the employee isn’t the master of the accommodation—the employer is …

In unemployment comp cases, alcoholism no defense to misconduct discharge

01/01/2008

Alcoholism may be a disability under the ADA and a serious health condition under the FMLA, but that doesn’t mean employers have to tolerate employees who come to work drunk. In fact, being under the influence at work can be misconduct, disqualifying the employee from getting unemployment payments …

Workers’ comp rates look sunny

01/01/2008

Workers’ comp rates will drop 18.4% next year, the fifth consecutive decrease since Florida’s system was overhauled in 2003 …

How to comply with Florida’s Drug-Free Workplace program

01/01/2008

Employers participating in Florida’s Drug-Free Workplace (DFW) program must be careful to follow its strict guidelines or risk incurring workers’ compensation benefit liability. In exchange for lower workers’ compensation premiums, Florida employers can agree to adopt the DFW program …

Any negative comments about work injury may lead to lawsuit

01/01/2008

It’s frustrating when an employee you don’t think is seriously injured files a workers’ compensation claim, especially months after the alleged injury. However, you must resist the temptation to react negatively—for example, by bad-mouthing the employee …

No simultaneous challenges in state and federal courts for workers’ comp cases

01/01/2008

A recent federal trial court decision means employees can’t sue to challenge the constitutionality of a Michigan workers’ compensation ruling in both state and federal courts. That’s good news for employers that now won’t have to fight it out in both courts at the same time …