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"If there's only one compliance issue you pay attention to this year, please make it wage and hour," Hunter Lott, director of PleaseSueMe.com, advised SHRM '09 conference attendees on Monday. An at-a-glance list of his compliance tips: * Go to DOL.gov and look up treatment for exempt vs. nonexempt employees. And don't worry about having to download and read reams of material: "There's a movie! You don't even have to read anything, they have a
June 30
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Once, when Hunter Lott, director of PleaseSueMe.com, was on a plane, a fellow passenger asked him what he did for a living. 'The short answer,' he said, 'is I keep companies and managers out of court.'' 'Ohhh,' the passenger said knowingly, 'you're an attorney.' Lott: 'No, I'm in human resources.' The passenger, sneering, said 'Ugh. That's worse.'
June 30 -
One of the best things about hiring new grads is getting to tap their newly polished skills and fresh energy to make your organization more successful. One of the worst things, though, is new grads can be a benefits nightmare. They feel invincible and don't know what they don't know about the workforce overall and the specific offerings your company provides for their success and protection.
June 29 -
In a 7 a.m. session (yes, 7 a.m. that's how early I get up to serve you, DD readers!) at SHRM's 2009 conference & expo in New Orleans, Don Powell, president and CEO of the American Institute for Preventive Medicine, offered his 'essentials' for successful wellness programming.
June 29 -
With lawmakers speeding toward completion of massive health care reform legislation, employers could make another full-time job out of keeping up with the latest developments. To help you stay up-to-date, the Campaign for an American Solution, www.americanhealthsolution.org, aims 'to build support for workable health care reform' and keeps track of everything from daily reform headlines to the latest in new proposals. The site also features an explanation of where the average American's health insurance
June 29 -
If you're like me, you may not know much about lupus, an autoimmune disorder characterized by pain and inflammation in the joints. However, it's important that you learn more about the disease, as just one affected employee could cost your company up to $60,000 per year in medical, absenteeism and short-term disability costs.
June 26 -
Hey pros, I think I may have found an area for savings to help fund health care reform. Data culled by AIS's Health Plan Week reveal that in 2008 the top dogs at 13 of the nation's largest health insurance companies raked in salaries totaling $118 million (yes, million) about $9 million each (yes, million).
June 26 -
Pros, I know you're busy keeping track of scads of acronyms -- ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA -- but one that may have sunk to the bottom of your alphabet soup is EGTRRA. Remember EGTRRA (Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act)? Enacted in 2001 after 9/11 to give some extra juice to the economy, it's the law that -- among other major retirement plan changes -- raised contribution limits for 401(k)s and IRAs and created catch-up
June 25 -
The public option has become the red-headed stepchild of the health care reform debate. It seems no one -- save the president and his staff -- is in favor of creating a Medicare-esque health plan as an alternative to private insurance. Employers and brokers all have voiced strong opposition, but the biggest critics seem to be carriers, for obvious reasons.
June 25 -
President Obama last night hosted a townhall meeting at the White House that aired as a one-hour special on ABC's news show 'Primetime Live.' Taking on questions from everything from how to pay doctors to how to pay for reform overall, the president offered few specifics to add to the ongoing debate on overhauling the nation's health care system.
June 25