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North Carolina

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 …

A pension to die for

02/01/2008

Is it a sad sign of the times, or a story as old as time? David Willis, postmaster for the U.S. Postal Service in Cornelius, has been indicted for soliciting someone to murder his ex-wife so he wouldn’t have to share his pension benefits with her …

Setting sound vacation policies requires understanding NC law

02/01/2008

Employers and employees alike often misunderstand North Carolina’s legal requirements concerning vacation benefits. Those misunderstandings often can become emotional and heated. The best way to avoid such disputes is to publish a clear vacation benefits policy based on a solid understanding of North Carolina law …

The risk of references

02/01/2008

Q. May a former employee sue me for giving a bad reference? …

Handing over the final paycheck

02/01/2008

Q. When and how must I deliver a fired employee’s final paycheck? …

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? …

Do you know what your rogue supervisors are doing?

01/01/2008

It takes just one low-level manager or frontline supervisor to create havoc in the workplace. These people set the tone of workplace communications, and if that tone has sexual content, others are likely to follow the lead. That’s one good reason to make sure you do more than lecture on sexual harassment. Instead—especially if branch offices are located away from headquarters—HR should make spot visits to see whether anything is amiss …

Changing benefits plans? Make transition accurate, timely

01/01/2008

Benefits are increasingly expensive to provide, and sometimes employers have to make changes to remain competitive. Be aware, though, that you need to implement any benefits changes with great attention to detail. Make certain the summary plan description is accurate, and that the underlying insurance documents are also correct …