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Leave

Fix leave errors before they become expensive mistakes

12/03/2013
Make sure employees receive the leave they’re entitled to under Cali­­for­­nia’s Fair Employment and Hous­­ing Act (FEHA). If a supervisor terminates an employee under the mistaken belief she’s at-will and can be fired for poor attendance—when she’s really eligible for medical leave—fix the mistake immediately.

10 hot gifts on employees’ holiday wish lists

12/02/2013
A year-end bonus isn’t the only way an organization can say “Happy Holidays!” to hard-working employees. Here are 10 alternatives to cash:

FMLA: Military Family Leave

12/01/2013

HR Law 101: The National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 granted new leave rights to family members of men and women who serve in the military. Because the NDAA amended the FMLA, the changes apply only to employers with 50 or more employees.

SHRM survey: Employers set 2014 holiday schedules

11/28/2013
Most full-time employees (78%) will receive six to 10 paid holidays per year, while most part-time workers (51%) will receive up to five paid holidays per year, according to SHRM’s 2014 Holiday Schedules survey.

72 AEP employees use $3,000 adoption benefit

11/19/2013

American Electric Power employees who adopt children get a little help from their employer: 30 hours of paid leave and $3,000 per child. One of the largest utilities in the country, American Electric Power has helped 72 of its employees with adoptions.

Houston firm dedicates one day per year to volunteerism

11/04/2013
For the third year, Houston-based Swift Worldwide Resources has given all of its employees a day off—the same day—to volunteer in their communities at 23 locations around the world.

Save money upon termination by including ‘use it or lose it’ leave policy in handbook

10/30/2013
Here’s another reason your hand­­book must include clear, concise and specific explanations of vacation and other leave policies: By carefully explaining that em­­ployees who quit forfeit unused leave, you won’t have to pay them for that un­­used time under the North Caro­­lina Wage and Hour Act.

March of Dimes offers array of benefits to expectant employees

10/30/2013
CEO Dr. Jennifer L. Howse says the March of Dimes’ attention to employee benefits reflects its mission of supporting healthy families, starting with its own employees.

2014 holiday scheduling: Compare your plans to other employers

10/29/2013
Are you offering too many (or too few) holidays off work for your employees? To compare your holiday closing plans with those of other U.S. employers, review these findings of the 2014 Holiday Schedules survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) …

Not a question to sneeze at: Is influenza covered by the FMLA?

10/29/2013
Back when Congress was debating the initial passage of the FMLA, there was considerable discussion about what kinds of illnesses would entitle an employee to FMLA protection. If in doubt, ask for a medical certification. Decide whether to approve or deny FMLA leave based on what the certification says.