September, 2009

Social Networking Is Double-edged Sword, Attorneys Warn

Employees' increasing use of social networking sites to advance their careers or vent against their employers can have negative legal consequences for all concerned, two veteran employment law attorneys warned during a Sept.

ADA Regulations May Apply Retroactively, Expert Warns

Employers may be liable for failing to comply with Americans With Disabilities Act regulations that have yet to be issued, according to one expert.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission proposed regulations last week that will implement the ADA Amendments Act.

DOT Issues SIFL Rates For Second Half of 2009

The U. S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued the new standard industry fare level (SIFL) rates for computing the value of airline travel employers can deduct for travel that occurs during the second half of 2009 (July 1-Dec.

Health Care Industry Should Court Millennial Workers, Speaker Says

Members of the Millennial generation, persons born between 1979 and 2000, are well-positioned to fill shortages in the health care industry, provided the industry pays attention to things that the generation values, said an industry expert during a Sept.

Upcoming OCR Rules to Provide HITECH Guidance

Rules being developed by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will help clarify and implement the stimulus law's recent HIPAA changes, the agency's chief HIPAA privacy official told a recent conference.

Suspended Players May Sue NFL Under State Drug Testing Laws

Federal labor law does not preempt claims by two Minnesota Vikings players that their four-game suspension under the terms of a union-negotiated drug testing policy violated Minnesota drug testing and lawful products use laws, the 8th Circuit U.

BLS: Alternatives Available for Workers With Frozen DB Plans

Over the past two decades employers have increasingly chosen to sponsor 401(k) plans and other types of defined contribution (DC) plans, which has led many companies to freeze their defined benefit (DB) pension plans.

Employers Predict Consequences Of Baucus Health Reform Plan

"America's Healthy Future Act," the health reform bill proposed by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont. ), was criticized by a fearful self-insured community predicting (1) erosion of membership; (2) new fees; (3) phase-outs of protections under federal law; and (4) other unpleasant impacts.

New ADA Rules Proposed; Public May Comment Until Nov. 23

New Americans With Disabilities Act employment regulations were proposed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Sept. 23, beginning a 60-day public comment period.

 
The regulations implement the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, which expanded the ADA's protections.

IRS Booklet Touts Benefits of Retirement Plans for Small Businesses

A new booklet from the Internal Revenue Service touts the benefits to small businesses of setting up an employee retirement plan under the title "Lots of Benefits When You Set up an Employee Retirement Plan.