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Compensation & Benefits

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

02/06/2009

HR Law 101: On Jan. 29, 2009, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act took effect, making it easier for women and others to sue for pay discrimination that may date back decades. The law, retroactive to May 2007, liberalizes statutes of limitations on when employees can file such lawsuits. 

Be on guard for age discrimination suit if older worker offers to work for less

02/05/2009

Older employees who learn they might be laid off for economic reasons—especially those who have recently spoken with an employment lawyer—have begun trying an interesting tactic: They’re volunteering to work for less pay. Take those offers seriously.

Economic stimulus package targets HR issues

02/03/2009

Amid tens of billions of dollars for roads and bridges, industry bailouts and job creation, the massive economic stimulus legislation passed by the House of Representatives last week would throw significant funding at a variety of HR-related programs and initiatives.

New tax break encourages subsidized bicycle commuting

02/02/2009

Don’t be surprised if your employees who are bicycling enthusiasts approach HR about a bicycle commuting benefit recently passed into federal law. The Bicycle Commuter Act allows employers of every size to deduct the cost of subsidizing bicycle commuting from their federal taxes.

Do we have to defend a third party whose negligence caused our worker’s injury?

02/02/2009

Q. One of our employees was badly injured when he tripped over equipment that had been left by our office building’s maintenance workers. Workers’ comp covered his medical bills and lost wages, but he also sued the building’s owners for negligence. Now we have a letter from the owners demanding that we defend them in the lawsuit and telling us we are responsible. How can that be? I thought we were protected by workers’ comp.

What time off counts for the purpose of FMLA intermittent leave?

02/02/2009

Q. I told an employee who takes lots of FMLA intermittent leave that all his time out of the office (no matter what it was for) would count against his FMLA time. My VP told me I was wrong and that was absolutely not the law. Who is right?

Don’t grant ‘FMLA leave’ if you’re not covered

02/02/2009

Employees who are promised they can take “FMLA leave” may have a claim against an employer even if it turns out the company isn’t required to comply with the FMLA because it has fewer than 50 employees. Employees can argue that the employer misled them, and that the company should therefore be required to comply with the FMLA.

What’s the best way to legally limit the length of leaves of absences?

02/02/2009

Q. How do we handle an employee who is on an indefinite leave of absence and does not know when he will be able to return to work?

What goes in a company credit card policy?

02/02/2009

Q. I work for a nonprofit agency. We plan to start using an agency credit card. We need a policy that covers who can use the card and when, plus some other things I haven’t thought of yet. What should the policy include?

‘Wage adjustments’ may be trend to watch

02/02/2009

These difficult economic times could get worse. As you think about your labor budget, consider that many Pennsylvania employers are already taking steps to reduce staff. Some are cutting the wages of those who are lucky enough to keep their jobs. This last tactic even has a new name—“wage adjustment.”