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Compensation & Benefits

Cigna fined for steering employers wrong on HMO changes

06/01/2007

The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance has fined Cigna HealthCare of New Jersey and Connecticut General Life $2.1 million for deceiving employers, and ordered Cigna to restore better coverage to 2,123 small businesses …

It’s final: Non-Lawyer reps OK at unemployment comp hearings

06/01/2007

After years of litigation and legislation, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has finally put the issue to rest: Employers are free to represent themselves or hire a non-attorney advisor to present their case when an employee wants an unemployment compensation hearing …

Employee hurt in pre-Employment screening gets disability comp

06/01/2007

An employee who was injured by a blood pressure cuff during a pre-employment physical will receive total disability benefits from Virginia-based General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board has ruled …

Pa. Supreme Court: Employers free to go it alone on UC appeals

06/01/2007

Thanks to a recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling, employers may now attend unemployment compensation appeals hearings without an attorney. The court overturned a 2005 Commonwealth Court ruling …

Governor pushing prescription for Pennsylvania

06/01/2007

Gov. Ed Rendell has been traveling the state selling his plan to make health care available and affordable for all Pennsylvanians. The plan—introduced in the House of Representatives as House Bill 700—proposes a program called Cover All Pennsylvanians (CAP) …

Use workers’ compensation policy checklist to avoid retaliation lawsuits

06/01/2007

Texas, like many states, makes it illegal to retaliate against employees who file workers’ compensation claims. To avoid such a lawsuit, make sure managers and supervisors treat injured workers fairly …

Check whether staff leasing provider is covered by Texas workers’ comp law

06/01/2007

Texas staff-leasing companies operate under the Staff Leasing Services Act. Employers who choose to use a staff leasing company can rest assured that, if the staffing firm elects to be covered by Texas’ workers’ compensation law, then so is the client company. That means that employees injured on the job can’t both collect workers’ compensation benefits and sue your organization for the same injury …

Recruiting & Retaining: 6 Real-Life Examples of Successful Programs

06/01/2007

Turnover among female employees at New York-based KPMG has declined by 22 percent in the past three years. One big reason: The KPMG Network of Women, or KNOW, helps female staff with professional development …

Can a New Mom Demand Part-Time Schedule?

06/01/2007

Q. We had a full-time employee take FMLA leave to have her baby. After her 12 weeks off, she demanded a part-time schedule. We need the position to be filled full time. The shift we want her to work is the one she was working before she took FMLA leave. Do we have to let her work the schedule she wants?—E.L., Connecticut

The right way to check validity of doctor’s note

06/01/2007

Q. Our company requires a doctor’s note for employees who are out sick more than two days. Sometimes the notes look like something the cat dragged in. Can we call the doctor’s office to simply verify the note is real?—E.W., Pennsylvania