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Minnesota

Contractor for short-term job: Good idea?

05/10/2012

Q. We want to bring on a worker to help finish up a contract that we have with a customer. The contract and work will end in a few months. To ease in setting this up and to avoid any long-term commitment, I’d like to hire the individual as a contractor and not an employee. Can I do this?

FedEx pays $3 million to settle hiring bias charges

05/10/2012
FedEx Ground has agreed to pay $3 million to resolve allegations by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) that the company’s hiring practices were discriminatory.

Delta agrees to OSHA’s baggage-cart seat belt plan

05/10/2012
Delta Airlines has entered into a two-year settlement agreement with OSHA to install seat belts on all company baggage-handling vehicles. An OSHA inspection following an em­­ployee death led to the agreement.

Unused leave takes a bite out of municipal budgets

05/10/2012
It’s a benefit designed to retain long-term employees, but the practice of allowing retiring government ­workers to cash out unused leave may turn in­­to an actuarial time bomb. The prob­­lem: Local governments are shedding employees at a record pace, often through early-retirement packages. And the leave liability is largely unfunded.

Faking illness is grounds for denying unemployment comp

05/10/2012
Employers have the right to expect their employees to be honest. When an employee is fired for lying about being sick and missing work, the employer won’t be liable for unemployment compensation payments.

How independent contractor can qualify for unemployment

05/10/2012
Have you thought about converting employees into independent contractors to save money? Then make sure you tell them they won’t be eligible for unemployment compensation. If you don’t, they may be eligible.

Remind supervisors to err on the side of caution when employee claims medical emergency

05/10/2012
When supervisors act out of anger or ignorance, the result is seldom good.

Suspect relative’s illness is used to game FMLA? If true, you’re free to discipline or terminate

05/10/2012

The FMLA allows employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a parent with a serious health condition. But it’s not unheard of for employees to take advantage of the FMLA by getting time off, but then not spend it caring for mom or dad. If you learn that your employee is cheating the system, feel free to discipline him.

Don’t fall into the retaliation trap: Handle ‘toxic’ worker’s complaint with care

05/10/2012

Some employees are nothing but trouble. They complain constantly, and even gripes that might have some merit are often exaggerated. However, you must think twice before you summarily terminate such an employee. Reason: You could be falling straight into a retaliation trap. Treat such toxic workers with care.

Sex-change spouse covered by health insurance

05/10/2012
Does your health insurance or other benefit plan specifically state that it covers those who are married under Minnesota law? Then your policy terms probably apply in some unique circumstances—including when an employee is married to someone who has undergone gender reassignment surgery.