• The HR Specialist - Print Newsletter
  • HR Specialist: Employment Law
  • The HR Weekly

Compensation & Benefits

Skeptical of ‘Spouse’ on benefit plan? Ask for proof

11/01/2004

Q. A few of our employees have added their spouses to our health benefits plan. We’ve heard through the grapevine that some of these “couples” aren’t actually married. Can we check on this without being discriminatory? —L.C., Illinois

Tell ‘key employees’ right away if denying job reinstatement

11/01/2004
Issue: FMLA lets you deny post-leave reinstatement, in some situations, to highly paid “key employees.” Benefit: That provision can shelter your organization from …

Start ‘leave meter’ running at first absence

11/01/2004
Issue: When does FMLA leave begin? How soon do you need to notify employees on leave? Benefit: A new court ruling clarifies that those 12 weeks begin with the first …

Combat absenteeism caused by flu-shot shortage

11/01/2004
Issue: Experts are predicting a sharp rise in flu victims this winter due to the unexpected shortfall in flu vaccines. Risk: More absenteeism and …

The new OT rules: You’ve got questions; we’ve got answers

11/01/2004
If you’re like most HR professionals, you’ve been scrambling in recent months to pull your organization in line with the Labor Department’s new rules defining …

Benchmark your benefits; costs take biggest jump since ’90

10/01/2004
Issue: It’s more important than ever to know if you’re budgeting too much, too little or the right amount for employee benefits. Risk: By ignoring industry …

Will the presidential election result affect hiring?

10/01/2004
Expect the presidential election outcome to produce a small economic boost in certain industries, according to a new survey by outplacement consulting firm …

Review insurance policies for legally dangerous exclusions

10/01/2004
Issue: A poorly worded insurance policy can spark age discrimination lawsuits. Risk: If your policy excludes members of a protected class (age, race, gender, etc.)…

To cut costs, shed myths about staff returning from injury

10/01/2004
Issue: Common misconceptions exist about how to handle employees returning from injury leave. Benefit: By looking deeper into these return-to-work myths …

You can place some conditions on employees’ FMLA leave

10/01/2004
While you can’t base firing decisions on an employee’s decision to take Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave, that doesn’t mean you’re powerless to act against employees who flaunt your …