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Compensation & Benefits

What’s the hourly rate for family member caring for employee out on workers’ comp?

02/12/2009

Q. One of our employees was injured at work and is now receiving workers’ compensation benefits and leave. One of his family members provides attendant care for him. What hourly rate of pay should this family member receive for her services?

Employee wants FMLA leave: Can we contact her health care provider?

02/12/2009

Q. When one of our employees requested FMLA leave, we asked for medical certification of a substantial health condition from her health care provider. We received the form, but cannot read some of the physician’s handwriting and do not understand some of the responses. We also need additional information not requested in the medical certification form. Can we seek clarification from the health care provider?

At what point does retired worker become ineligible for PTD workers’ comp?

02/12/2009

Q. If an injured worker has a catastrophic injury under Florida’s Workers’ Compensation Act and subsequently retires, does that mean the employee is not entitled to permanent total disability (PTD) workers’ compensation benefits?

General Mills, Mayo Clinic on Fortune ‘best companies’ list

02/12/2009

Two companies headquartered in Minnesota have made the 2009 Fortune magazine “100 Best Companies to Work For” list: General Mills of Minneapolis and the Mayo Clinic of Rochester.

Corporatewide pay policies reduce class-action risk

02/12/2009

It’s one thing to have to pay a wage-and-hour claim for one or two employees. It’s quite another to have to defend a giant class-action overtime suit. One way to cut the risk that a minor problem will morph into a huge lawsuit is to enforce clear overtime rules.

OK to have stricter standards for probationary employees

02/12/2009

You can learn a lot about an employee during the first few weeks. Missing work then probably means attendance will be a problem later. Having stricter rules during the initial probationary period will help you weed out problem employees.

DOL chases down ‘orphan’ retirement funds

02/12/2009

Here’s a trend to watch out for as the economy continues to slow: As companies go out of business, employees sometimes lose access to their retirement funds. It’s not a new problem, but it’s one the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is trying to fix.

Extended benefits to help 3,000 jobless Minnesotans

02/12/2009

One of the first laws passed this year by the Minnesota Legislature will help about 3,000 Minnesotans who were about to exhaust their unemployment benefits …

Target workers hit with layoffs

02/12/2009

Minneapolis-based Target, the nation’s second largest discount retailer, has announced it will cut 1,000 jobs in Minneapolis alone. Those cuts include 400 open but unfilled positions, in addition to 600 layoffs.

Best Buy also cuts jobs

02/12/2009

Best Buy, the nation’s largest electronics retailer, will cut an undisclosed number of jobs at its Richfield headquarters. The news comes after 500 employees already left under a voluntary buyout program.