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Court: Local governments can create benefit-spending requirements

11/25/2008

Many California employers are viewing a recent decision by a federal appeals court as a setback. The court upheld the right of local governments to pass ordinances that essentially force employers to provide a certain level of funding for employee benefits.

Corzine signs bills reforming workers’ compensation system

11/25/2008

Gov. Jon Corzine has signed a package of workers’ compensation reform bills that should make the state’s system more efficient and more responsive to the needs of employers and workers. The legislation is comprised of five bills.

Economic woes force changes in staffing, salaries, benefits

11/21/2008

As the impact of the global economic crisis takes hold, one-fifth of U.S. employers have instituted layoffs and another 26% expect to shed jobs in the next 12 months, according to a survey by global consulting firm Watson Wyatt.

‘Sweeping’ changes in store for HR & employers

11/21/2008

Change. America voted for it, and the HR world will certainly receive its fair share next year. The arrival in Washington of President-elect Obama and a firmly Democratic-controlled Congress will spark an array of legislative and regulatory proposals that could rewrite the employment law rule book.

How to merge workers’ comp and FMLA

11/21/2008

Q. One of our employees was injured on the job. She went to the hospital the same night, had surgery and was out of work for eight days. Can we apply FMLA leave or sick leave to that time, even if she ends up being paid through workers’ comp?

Union fights Wayne County over health care changes

11/20/2008

The AFSCME secured a court order to prevent Wayne County from changing its retiree health care benefits. A redesign proposed by the county would have tripled prescription drug co-pays for employees who retired under the 2000-2004 contract.

15% of Michigan employers face additional unemployment tax

11/20/2008

Plummeting unemployment insurance funds and rising state debt will likely trigger a “solvency tax” on many Michigan employers beginning in January, the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) said.

HR cost-cutting moves: Your benchmarks for surviving the meltdown

11/18/2008

As the impact of the global economic crisis takes hold, a quarter of U.S. employers expect to make layoffs in the next 12 months. Find out how employers nationwide are hunkering down—and the HR lessons you can apply to your organization. Your goal: Do what needs to be done … without killing productivity.

Breaking no-alcohol rule may mean no jobless benefits

11/12/2008

If you have a zero-tolerance policy for employees drinking alcohol on duty, employees who are fired for breaking the rules may be denied unemployment compensation benefits—even if the employee wasn’t impaired enough to be criminally charged with drunken driving.

Can we fire someone who is costing us a fortune in workers’ comp claims?

11/12/2008

Q. We have an employee in our manufacturing facility who has brought numerous workers’ compensation claims. This has cost us a lot of money. Do we have to continue to employ this person? His position involves a continued risk of physical injury.