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Compensation & Benefits

In case of layoffs, must we offer severance and pay out accrued, unused vacation?

07/02/2010
Q. We are in the process of reducing our staff and will need to lay off several employees. Are we required to provide severance pay to those selected for layoff? How about pay for accrued, unused vacation time?

Looking for ‘creative’ ways to avoid overtime? Courts will look for ways to make you pay

07/02/2010

Before you are tempted to come up with clever ways to avoid paying overtime to employees, consider this: It’s usually easy for courts to see through such ruses. And after they discover shenanigans, courts usually reward the wronged employee with a bonus payment equal to the lost overtime wages—plus the employer has to pay the legal fees.

Opt-in to Texas workers’ comp to cut liability

07/02/2010

Good news if you’ve opted into the Texas workers’ compensation system and you sometimes rely on temporary staffing agencies to supply workers. If one of those workers gets hurt on your premises—and if you control crucial elements of the worker’s day, such as telling him when to work and take breaks, and supply tools or equipment—you may be saved from direct liability for the injury. Workers’ comp will cover the injury.

Shopping for employee-lawsuit insurance: 6 questions to ask

07/01/2010
Employment practice liability insurance (EPLI) covers you from employee lawsuit judgments. The jump in employee lawsuits is making EPLI a nearly must-have; so premiums are rising. Here’s how to shop for a policy …

Sitter service is day care alternative

06/30/2010

With 1,500 employees at its Chicago headquarters, advertising firm Leo Burnett isn’t quite large enough for an on-site day care center for employees’ children, says HR Manager Meredith Reinker. So it signed up for an online service that matches parents with local nannies and baby sitters. Sittercity.com also lists elder caregivers, pet sitters, tutors and housekeepers.

Get out of town! Three companies offer innovative vacation benefits

06/29/2010

As we head into the Fourth of July weekend, take a look at how three companies handle vacation time—from compressed schedules leading to more time off to luxury digs fit for a wealthy client. And don’t forget the overseas surgery!

4 key trends transforming employee assistance programs

06/29/2010

Employee assistance programs are on the rise as employers cope with higher health care costs—and employees cope with the stresses of an uncertain economy. An expert says four trends will drive EAP change in coming months, bringing cost savings for companies and better care for workers.

How quickly must we announce health plan changes?

06/29/2010
Q. When we make changes to our medical plan, how long do we have to get the new summary plan out to employees?

Bank of America workers sue for overtime

06/28/2010
Workers at Charlotte-based Bank of America’s retail branches and call centers in five states have filed a lawsuit claiming they are due unpaid overtime from the banking giant.

Employees may choose just one: Either workers’ comp or retaliation lawsuit

06/28/2010
Here’s a bit of good news for North Carolina employers: The Court of Appeals of North Carolina has rejected a bid to expand the right to sue one’s employer for retaliation.