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Compensation & Benefits

Florida sued over floating minimum wage calculations

02/14/2011
In 2004, state voters approved linking the minimum wage to inflation. All went well for a few years, but now a lawsuit says the state got the math wrong two years ago.

Tampa investigation leads to multistate overtime settlement

02/14/2011
When U.S. Department of Labor investigators first looked into ready-mix cement truck drivers’ complaints in Tampa, they didn’t know the investigation would lead to a $1.5 million recovery for CEMEX employees in eight states.

Employee who fears illness can quit, collect unemployment

02/14/2011
Workers whose employers give them good cause to leave a job are still entitled to unemployment compensation benefits.

How much time off must we grant for school activities?

02/11/2011
Q. We are short-staffed due to layoffs. One of our employees wants to take more time off to attend school activities, even though we have already allowed her to attend parent-teacher conferences and a talent show. How much leave is the employee entitled to take under the Illinois School Visitation Rights Act?

Must we grant time off so employees can participate in activities at their children’s schools?

02/11/2011
Q. An employee is asking for time off to attend a classroom activity for his child. Do we have to comply with this request?

In Illinois, what are the penalties for unpaid wages?

02/11/2011
Q. I heard that employers may soon be prosecuted for not paying employees on time. What are the penalties for employers that violate the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act?

New civil-union law means employers must make decisions

02/11/2011
Illinois’ new civil-union law—which gives new rights to same-sex and opposite-sex couples—goes into effect on June 1. It says couples united in civil unions are “entitled to the same legal obligations, responsibilities, protections and benefits as are afforded or recognized by the law of Illinois to spouses….”

$1.3 million due from O’Hare contractor that stiffed workers

02/11/2011

If your organization performs work for the federal government, consider this case a warning: A company that provides ground transportation services at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport has settled charges it failed to pay prevailing wages to its employees as required by federal contracting rules.

Warn bosses: Don’t speculate on injury costs

02/11/2011
We all know that employers’ workers’ compensation insurance premiums go up when someone gets hurt at work and starts collecting workers’ comp. But that’s no reason to treat a worker who is returning from an injury any differently than you treat others.

The HR I.Q. Test: February ’11

02/11/2011
Test your knowledge of recent trends in employment law, comp & benefits and other HR issues with our monthly mini-quiz …