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Compensation & Benefits

Changing benefits plans? Make transition accurate, timely

01/01/2008

Benefits are increasingly expensive to provide, and sometimes employers have to make changes to remain competitive. Be aware, though, that you need to implement any benefits changes with great attention to detail. Make certain the summary plan description is accurate, and that the underlying insurance documents are also correct …

Ensure doctors are fully credentialed for workers’ comp duty

01/01/2008

If you self-insure your workers’ compensation liability or otherwise directly control how your employees go about getting treatment for work-related injuries, make sure the medical professionals involved in your employees’ care are properly licensed and meet all requirements of their licenses. Otherwise, you may face liability for the negligent mistakes of health care practitioners …

Health insurance surcharges mean you’ll pay for bad habits

01/01/2008

Starting in 2008, Tribune Co., owner of the Chicago Tribune, began applying a monthly surcharge of $100 to the family health insurance premiums of workers who use tobacco or whose insured dependents do. Employees who kick the habit through the company’s smoking cessation program lose the surcharge …

Unemployment insurance tax rates to decrease in 2008

01/01/2008

Many Texas employers will see lower unemployment insurance (UI) taxes this year, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. The minimum tax rate, which 62% of Texas employers pay, decreased to 0.22% from 0.29% for the 2008 calendar year …

Require use of vacation time if you know FMLA doesn’t apply

01/01/2008

Employers don’t have to allow employees to take sick or FMLA time just because they claim minor health problems. If you are certain that an illness or injury doesn’t amount to a serious health condition as defined by the FMLA, then there is no reason to run the time against FMLA or sick time …

Have a sick leave bank? Make it accessible to all who qualify

01/01/2008

If, like many employers, you maintain a sick leave bank for employees who exhaust their available leave time, remember this: You’ll risk a retaliation lawsuit if you deny the use of banked time to an employee who has filed a discrimination claim …

7 ways for employers—Big or small—To recruit & retain in ’08

01/01/2008

f you work for a large organization, get ready to fight with small ones for your employees. If you work for a small organization, get ready to spend more on the pay and benefits that will lure big-company stars over to your shop …

New laws for the New Year?

01/01/2008

Q. Heading into 2008, are there any changes to Ohio law that employers need to be aware of? …

Employee’s bizarre behavior can count as FMLA ‘Notice’

01/01/2008

If you’ve never had any formal psychiatric training, maybe it’s time you put your business plan aside and register for Psych 101. Why? A recent court ruling shows how the FMLA can require you and your supervisors to play psychiatrist, too …

Do a father’s prenatal visits qualify for FMLA?

01/01/2008

Q. Does all prenatal care qualify for FMLA leave, or does the female employee need to have complications to qualify? Also, can a husband take leave for his wife’s prenatal care, such as accompanying her to an ultrasound? …