Tuesday December 3, 2024

Health costs: How to combat the sneaky increases of generic drugs

While the spotlight is on the skyrocketing cost of specialty drugs right now, the price tag on generics is quietly trending upward. And if employers don’t take some necessary precautions right now, it could lead to some major headaches down the road. In fact, there could be as much as a 15% increase in generic […]

85% of resumes contain lies: 3 ways to spot and stop them

It’s not surprising some job applicants feel the need to embellish their resumes to get a better shot at a job. But the exact number — now 85% — has risen dramatically over the past few years.  Resume lies have become so common that a lot of dishonest applicants are going undetected. Whether this is […]

Was employee fired for strange threat or taking FMLA leave?

Firing an employee around the same time they took FMLA leave is always a tricky situation, but there are some clear-cut instances where an employer can easily defend its decision.  Backstory Tate Clark was a customer service agent for Southwest Airlines. He suffered from migraines and was approved for intermittent FMLA leave, which he took […]

Why common health plan feature now puts you at great risk for a lawsuit

Heads up: A recent lawsuit puts employers in a very tricky spot regarding health plan compliance. What’s worse, employers can’t even rely on guidance from the feds to protect themselves from illegal action. That’s because of a recent move by a federal judge in AARP v. EEOC, a lawsuit claiming the government’s health plan incentive […]

Hiring in today’s labor market: 4 candidate ‘red flags’ you may want to overlook

When the job market was at its worst, recruiters could afford to be more selective with candidates they chose to interview. But, in this tight labor market, recruiters need to find ways to widen their hiring pools.  One way to do this? Try looking at candidates who, in the past, may have been eliminated in […]

IRS’ first FAQ on paid-leave credit answers some key questions

Employers finally have federal guidance regarding the paid-leave tax credit created under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), but that guidance is likely to fall short of what many firms were expecting. In fact, in the initial FAQ on the tax-credit, the IRS even said it will eventually offer more comprehensive guidance for employers. […]

FLSA violation? Church members told it was ‘blasphemy’ not to volunteer at the ‘Lord’s Buffet’

At first glance, church members volunteering at their parish’s buffet restaurant seems like it’s on the up and up. But when it’s discovered that these volunteers were coerced and threatened with religious consequences, the DOL’s going to get involved.  Worried about ‘failing God’ Grace Cathedral Church in Akron, OH owned and operated a restaurant called […]

Employee fakes cancer to get leave: How vigilant manager stopped the abuse

When an employee requests time off because of something as serious as a cancer diagnosis, 99% of the time the person will be telling the truth about their situation. But as a recent case shows, if a manager has even an inkling that something’s amiss, it pays to take a closer look. In the case […]

Employees name 4 biggest workplace distractions: Here’s how to help them

It’s not surprising that a recent survey found 69% of full-time employees get distracted at work. The more interesting finding is that 70% of workers think their managers could help them focus better through training.  Udemy conducted a survey of 1,000 full-time office workers in the U.S. to find what was causing the distractions, how […]

Recruiting 2.0: Don’t break these 3 rules when you’re texting new talent

More and more recruiters are communicating with talent through text messaging. It’s faster than email, and candidates appreciate being kept in the loop throughout the hiring process.  Once this method of communication is opened up, it can be easy to overdo it with the texts, which could ruin relationships with promising new hires. To maintain […]