Employment Laws
Feature of the Week
Happy Thanksgiving! The Society for Human Resource Management coordinated a “Hill Day” on Thursday, Nov. 15, lobbying the U.S. Congress to support the tax-deferred status of employee benefits. SHRM’s position is that a comprehensive and flexible set of benefits is a critical tool for employers as they recruit and retain talented employees, and that tax-exempt benefits such as educational assistance, retirement savings and health care are expected to come under scrutiny as Congress considers tax reform and efforts to reduce the deficit. This week’s Feature from CCH Daily Document Update reports on the fiscal issues SHRM discussed with legislators.
Feature of the Week
Now that the fate of the employment bills of the 2012 State Legislature has been settled with Gov. Abercrombie’s signature or veto earlier this month, it’s a good time to step back and analyze how the session affected Hawaii employers. This week’s Feature by HEC Assistant General Counsel Ryan Sanada provides the final analysis of this year’s Legislature.
Feature of the Week
Recent court decisions, employee lawsuits, and increasingly complex workplace regulations are making it imperative that employment law training takes place at all levels of the company; this not only makes good business sense but hopefully acts as preventative insurance against potential costly legal nightmares down the road. This week’s Feature from HRN Performance Solutions is a White Paper on when to train, who to train, and what topics are critical.
Feature of the Week
It can be easy to think of student interns, part-time summer help, and other temporary workers as “not really” employees, but employers must ensure that they are still complying with employment-related laws regarding this workforce. This week’s Feature from CCH Daily Document Update reports on five important tips to remember for seasonal hires from national law firm Fisher & Phillips, LLP.
Feature of the Week
Hawaii’s employment discrimination laws are well-known by HR practitioners for being strict, but sometimes line managers need reminding about how strict they are. This week’s Feature from HEC General Counsel Sheri-Ann Lau-Clark examines a recent court opinion holding that an individual manager can be held liable for derogatory remarks made to an employee.
Feature of the Week
Now that the dust has settled over another legislative session, the focus shifts to the bills before Governor Abercrombie for approval or veto. This week’s Feature from HEC Assistant General Counsel Ryan Sanada provides a wrap up of the session, and what it means for Hawaii employers.
Feature of the Week
The controversial mandated paid sick leave bill has been resurrected in the State Legislature, and is being hammered out. This week’s Feature is a special report by HEC Assistant General Counsel Ryan Sanada on the legislative maneuvering concerning a proposed law likely to affect every employer of 100 or more employees doing business in Hawaii.
Feature of the Week
The 2012 Hawaii State Legislature is considering a number of employer-unfriendly bills, ranging from a mandate for paid sick leave and protecting employees from discipline if they claim illness, to making it harder for employers to require an independent medical examination in workers compensation claims. This week’s Feature by HEC Assistant General Counsel Ryan Sanada examines the IME issue and what it means for Hawaii employers.
Feature of the Week
Since the passage of reforms under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, health plans and plan administration have had to evolve plan documents and train staff on the requirements. This week’s Feature from CCH reports on a recent webcast sponsored by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans covering a review by experts on what reforms are currently in place, which ones will be forthcoming in the next few years, and how employers can prepare for them.
Feature of the Week
This week’s Feature is a special report by HEC on a January 7, 2012 session on Employer and Employee Rights & Responsibilities sponsored by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, which had representatives from the U.S. Department of Justice, and Homeland Security speak on the employer responsibilities on I-9 Form verification, and how to avoid national origin and immigration status discrimination.
Feature of the Week
In addition to trying to survive in a tough economy, businesses should be mindful of other trends on the horizon. This week’s Feature from CCH News outlines the top trends that Shanti Atkins, Esq., president and CEO of ELT, says employers should absolutely have on their radar.
Feature of the Week
The national health reform law has made its one year anniversary, and since then there have been numerous lawsuits, regulations, model notices, and other activities which have transpired. This week’s Feature from CCH News provides a recap for employers on the current state of affairs with the health reform law.
Feature of the Week
Hawaii employers will have to open up their wallets under a law quietly signed by Governor Abercrombie on February 23 aimed at increasing the Employment and Training Fund assessment. This week’s Feature by HEC Assistant General Counsel Sheri-Ann Clark explains the impact of the increased assessment, which is effective retroactive to January 1, 2011.
IRS Encourages Small Business to Use Tax Credits, Incentives for Benefits and Hires
The Internal Revenue Service is encouraging small businesses to take advantage of tax-saving opportunities included in recently enacted federal legislation, including the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act and the Affordable Care Act.
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Read more Congress Mulls Extension of COBRA Subsidy, UI Benefits
The U.S. Congress is considering legislation to extend eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits and subsidized COBRA through December 31, 2010; the same legislation also closes tax loopholes for wealthy investment fund managers and foreign operations of multi-national companies.
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