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Compensation & Benefits

‘Ad hoc’ leave benefits are a discrimination trap

02/01/2008

Sometimes, employers may want to maintain some flexibility to handle unique leave situations. For example, what would your organization do if a valued, loyal and long-term employee developed a terminal disease? Would you allow him a “leave of absence” with continued insurance coverage until his death to save his family from financial ruin? You can, if you are careful about exactly how you go about it …

Focus on safety–Not reducing claims–When discussing workers’ comp

02/01/2008

Employers naturally want to reduce their workers’ compensation claims—it means lower insurance costs, less lost time and higher productivity. But be careful how you frame the issue. Don’t discourage legitimate claims or retaliate against those who file claims …

Remind employees they may be personally liable for injuries

02/01/2008

We all want an injury-free workplace. No injuries means no lost productivity, no workers’ comp payments or premium increases and no additional OSHA scrutiny. But employees sometimes can’t resist horseplay, which can lead to serious injuries. If you need an additional reason to discourage playing around, even in good fun, tell them this: An employee who intentionally hurts a co-worker may be personally sued …

Michigan partners with IRS on employment tax enforcement

02/01/2008

Michigan is one of 29 states that have signed memoranda of understanding with the IRS to share enforcement information on employment tax collection matters. The move is part of the IRS’ Questionable Employment Tax Practices initiative …

San Francisco’s universal health plan garners court approval

02/01/2008

The controversial San Francisco city plan to roll out universal health care coverage for residents won a huge victory when the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously that the plan could go ahead. The court allowed the city to proceed with its plan to require all businesses with more than 20 employees to pay a fee to help cover health care costs …

‘Play or pay’ health care measure approved by Assembly

02/01/2008

The California State Assembly has approved omnibus health care reform legislation by a 46–31 vote. The measure, AB 1×1, would require all California residents to purchase health coverage by July 2010, compel individual health insurers to accept all applicants regardless of pre-existing medical conditions and impose a “play or pay” mandate on employers to provide health care coverage to their workers or pay into a state-run purchasing pool to subsidize coverage for low-income earners …

North Carolina gets high marks for pension management

02/01/2008

North Carolina is one of only a handful of states with a fully funded pension, according to a recent study by the Pew Center on the States, although the state’s obligations for retiree health care and other benefits is underfunded by $139 million …

Refusing to return from leave

02/01/2008

Q. A worker who was injured on the job but now is better is refusing to return from leave. What can we do? …

Lying about a work injury?

02/01/2008

Q. I suspect that an employee out on workers’ compensation is lying about the extent of her injury. May I require the employee to have another medical examination? …

Limits on workers’ comp leave?

02/01/2008

Q. Is there any limitation on how long workers’ compensation leave may go on? …