Day: February 2, 2012

No Kidding: Labor to Revise Its Proposal Restricting Child Labor on Farms

The Labor Department, in response to strong opposition from farm families, is revising its proposed rule restricting child labor on farms. As part of a package of child labor reforms unveiled Sept. 2, 2011, Labor proposed narrowing the so-called parental exemption that allows children of any age who are employed by their parent, or a […]

Penn State and Paterno: Loyalty Unchecked Leads to Headaches and Heartache

Legendary college football coach Joe Paterno died recently after a battle with lung cancer. But by many accounts, some people who knew him well say the 85-year-old died of a broken heart. I think Joe Paterno’s career at Penn State University is worth closer examination because there are lessons for employers and employees alike, says […]

School for Scandal: Hearst Corp. Latest Company to Be Sued by an Unpaid Intern

By Liza Casabona Thinking that an unpaid intern might provide an answer to payroll your budget woes? Think again. Several recent, high profile lawsuits filed by interns underscore the risks faced by companies sponsoring unpaid internships. The Hearst Corp. is among the latest companies to be accused by interns of wage and hour violations. The […]

Work doesn’t pay anymore: IRS phases out tax credit for employees

The Making Work Pay Tax Credit won’t be available this tax season as the government limits tax deductions, write-offs and credits for 2011 and 2012. Also this tax season, the tax penalty for non-qualified distributions from HSAs and Archer MSAs is increasing. Employers should be aware of these and other changes, many of which are listed […]

Retirement Plan Task Force Issues Model Disclosure Form for Public School 403(b) Plans

The “first ever transparency standards for disclosure of fees and services in the public school 403(b) marketplace,” were launched Feb. 1 by partners of the 403(b) Transparency Taskforce, which include the National Education Association (NEA), the National Tax Sheltered Accounts Association (NTSAA) and The American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA). The issue of […]

Congress, Stakeholders Challenge OFCCP’s Proposed EEO Quota

Members of Congress are questioning whether the Department of Labor has the authority to require employers to set goals for hiring hiring disabled workers. The inquiry concerns the propriety — and practicality — of proposed rules announced late last year by DOL’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs requiring federal contractors to institute hiring goals. […]

Electronic Records in California: Maintaining Them, Keeping Them Safe

Utilizing electronic records can be a way to reduce paperwork in your office, but do you know how to stay in legal compliance while utilizing electronic employee records? How do you ensure your files are safe in case of an emergency? In a CER webinar titled “Electronic Recordkeeping in California: How to Manage, Store, and […]