Click the headline of any news item to read the full article.
08/22/2008 -- EMPLOYERS MUST BOLSTER THEIR POLICIES AGAINST RETALIATION
Law.com - Over the last few years, employers who have faced claims of race, gender, age or other prohibited discrimination typically find themselves also litigating separate and distinct claims of retaliation. Plaintiffs now allege not only discriminatory acts by the employer, but also acts in retaliation for the plaintiff's having raised discrimination complaints within the company.
08/22/2008 -- CENSUS DATA PROJECT MORE DIVERSITY AT WORK
USA Today - The U.S. workforce will become increasingly diverse over the next three decades, a shift that could bring changes in education, training and public policy, according to a USA TODAY analysis of Census data released Thursday.
08/22/2008 -- DOL SUES MANAGERS OF TEXAS INDUSTRIAL BENEFIT FUND
Reliable Plant - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued a purported employer association, a health fund trustee, and the fund's consultant over alleged imprudent management of the Manufacturing and Industrial Workers Benefit Fund of Bryan, Texas.
08/22/2008 -- EMPLOYEE THROWS FIT, BREAKS HAND, AWARDED WORKMAN'S COMP
WOWT.com - Employers are raising concerns about a decision to award worker's compensation and medical benefits to a former employee who broke his hand when he lost his temper and hit a trailer.
08/22/2008 -- THE LATEST EMPLOYMENT COST INDEX NEWS RELEASE
Total compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.7 percent, seasonally adjusted, from March to June 2008, the same as the increase in the previous quarter. For the year ended June 2008, compensation costs rose 3.1 percent; the June 2007 12-month percent increase was 3.3 percent.
08/22/2008 -- EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION: A POWERFUL NEW MODEL
Harvard Business Review - Getting people to do their best work, even in trying circumstances, is one of managers’ most enduring and slippery challenges. Indeed, deciphering what motivates us as human beings is a centuries-old puzzle.
08/07/2008 -- OSHA ISSUES 3RD LARGEST FINE EVER AGAINST TEXAS-BASED IMPERIAL SUGAR
Insurance Journal - The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on July 25 announced it has proposed penalties totaling $8,777,500 against Houston-based Imperial Sugar Co. and its two affiliates alleging violations at their plants in Port Wentworth, Ga., and Gramercy, La.
08/07/2008 -- MORE MEN FILING WORKPLACE LAWSUITS
Law.com - Employment and family law attorneys say a growing number of men are filing a wide variety of workplace lawsuits, suing over everything from more leave time to care for their children to sexual harassment.
08/07/2008 -- WHY DO EMPLOYEES FILE DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS AND GRIEVANCES?
FedSmith.com - Employees often file EEO complaints and grievances based on actions taken, or not taken, by management. For example, managers and supervisors fill vacant positions; make selections for permanent promotions; detail and temporarily promote employees to other positions; assign performance ratings; and approve training and awards.
08/07/2008 -- SAFE ROAD MAPS
CERS - Welcome to Safe Road Maps! This website is a ground-breaking tool that combines information from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System with Google Maps to give you a visual representation of traffic safety across the entire nation. With this system, you can enter an address and view the roads that have the highest number of traffic fatalities in a specified area.
08/07/2008 -- 10 TIPS FOR NEGOTIATING WORKPLACE CONFLICTS
Conflict happens. It happens in all areas of business. When your employees spend 40 plus hours together each week, they are bound to run into disagreements and arguments that can hurt not only their productivity but the productivity of their fellow co-workers. And if such issues are not settled, bad things can happen.
07/26/2008 -- VACCINATION PLAN PUTS HEALTH CARE WORKERS FIRST
Business Insurance - The HHS plan designates 700,000 "deployed and mission critical personnel" to follow the key health care workers. After that, 300,000 public health workers, 3.2 million inpatient health care providers, 2.5 million outpatient doctors, nurses and other professionals, and 1.6 million long-term care workers would be next to get the vaccine.
07/26/2008 -- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ANNOUNCES NEW PUBLICATION ON ALCOHOL AND DRUG TESTING
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Drug & Alcohol Policy & Compliance (ODAPC) announced the availability of a new document designed to help employers implement the DOT's drug and alcohol testing regulations.
07/26/2008 -- NEW EEOC COMPLIANCE MANUAL ON “RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION”
This Section of the Compliance Manual focuses on religious discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII). Title includes provisions requiring reasonable accommodation of employees’ sincerely held religious beliefs, observances, and practices when requested, unless accommodation would impose an undue hardship on business operations.
07/26/2008 -- CITY EYES CLAMPDOWN ON CONTRACTORS' RECORDKEEPING
Houston Chronicle - City Council is set to take up an ordinance today that would require better recordkeeping by construction contractors who do work for the city. The new rules are aimed at making it harder for companies to misclassify skilled workers as "independent contractors," in order to avoid paying Social Security, Medicare, workers' compensation or unemployment insurance.
07/26/2008 -- CONGRESS AIMS TO EXPAND THE ADA
Law.com - Nearly a decade after a series of employment decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court left countless plaintiffs outside the protections of the landmark Americans With Disabilities Act, Congress appears on the verge of undoing much of the high court's handiwork.
07/15/2008 -- COMPANIES EMBRACE PRAISE
The Christian Science Monitor - In the workplace, that recognition takes many forms. Sometimes it's a quiet thank you, other times a bonus or a public award. Either way, it is a gesture that employers ignore at their peril.
07/15/2008 -- OSHA FINES FORT WORTH CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR MORE THAN $157,000 FOR ALLEGED SAFETY VIOLATIONS
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued citations with proposed penalties totaling $157,600 to Shelby Stephens Construction Inc., a Fort Worth, Texas-based contractor, for allegedly failing to protect employees from falls and falling objects at two of its worksites in Garland.
07/15/2008 -- STRICTER COMPANY POLICIES HELP LOWER NUMBER OF WORK HOMICIDES
Business Insurance - Workplace homicides have declined in the United States since peaking in 1994, but employer vigilance is still necessary, experts say.
07/15/2008 -- 7 EMPLOYER ACTIONS THAT CAN INCREASE LIKELIHOOD OF A LAWSUIT
HR.blr.com - There are steps employers can take to make them less vulnerable to lawsuits brought by employees or former employees; and if they are sued, there are things they can do to avoid making a bad situation worse.
07/15/2008 -- SIZING UP EMPLOYMENT LAWS
Human Resource Executive - Size of the organization is not always the main factor in determining the applicability of federal -- or state -- labor laws. In addition to a review of the key federal laws, the column this month explores the impact of the ADA and FMLA on workers in treatment programs for drug or alcohol addiction.
07/15/2008 -- DRIVER AWARDED MORE THAN $250,000 AFTER REFUSING TO DRIVE WHAT HE CONSIDERED AN UNSAFE LOAD
Austin American Statesman - A Travis County jury has awarded a man more than $267,000 after deciding that he was fired from an Austin trucking company for refusing to drive an unstable load of steel from Austin to the San Antonio area.
07/08/2008 -- TEXAS MANUFACTURING ACTIVITY WEAKENS IN SURVEY
Dallas Morning News - Texas manufacturing activity weakened in June, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas said Monday, citing results from its monthly survey of business executives.
07/08/2008 -- NEW BUSINESS TAX COLLECTS $4.2 BILLION
Austin American Statesman.com - The first tally of Texas' new business tax shows it has generated $4.2 billion so far, but officials say it is too early to tell what the final take will be.
07/08/2008 -- 160 ARRESTED IN IMMIGRATION RAID AT A HOUSTON PLANT
New York Times - Federal immigration agents arrested 160 employees on Wednesday in a raid on a used clothing and rag exporting plant. The authorities said it was the largest workplace raid ever here.
07/08/2008 -- EMPLOYERS REACT TO IRS MIDYEAR MILEAGE HIKE
Austin American Statesman - Area employers Tuesday were evaluating what they pay employees for using their own cars on company business after the Internal Revenue Service raised the allowable mileage deduction rate by eight cents to 58.5 cents a mile.
07/08/2008 -- WHAT JOB INTERVIEWERS SHOULDN’T ASK
Star-Telegram.com - Some of the interviewers suspected that the job candidate was pregnant but knew that the federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act forbids them to ask.
07/01/2008 -- TEXAS MAY FEEL RIPPLE EFFECT OF SUPREME COURT'S HANDGUN BAN RULING
Dallas Morning News - Currently, the state allows private businesses to ban weapons on their premises, and guns are prohibited in certain places, such as government buildings and college campuses. Gun proponents hope to see those with concealed-weapon licenses given the right to carry their guns on campuses and to secured areas at the workplace.
07/01/2008 -- ADVICE ON WORKING IN SUMMER HEAT
During this time of year, it is especially important to pay attention to heat stress and other dangers posed by the summer sun. OSHA reminds readers of its free downloadable resources, such as the Heat Stress QuickCard that employees can use to reduce the risk of health ailments from working in hot temperatures.
07/01/2008 -- TEXAS CITIES COULD RESTRICT CAR TRAFFIC
Dallas Business Journal - Hammered by highway congestion, North Texas cities could soon try to pressure large employers to cut the car trips their employees take to work, in exchange for getting major highway construction on adjacent roads.
07/01/2008 -- HEALTH CARE COSTS FOR EMPLOYERS EXPECTED TO RISE
Seattlepi.com - Employer health care costs are poised to rise almost 10 percent in 2008 -- more than double the annual inflation rate -- and nearly that much again in 2009, according to an industry report released Tuesday.
07/01/2008 -- NEW FOCUS ON COMPLIANCE MAKES I-9's A BIG DEAL FOR EMPLOYERS
Law.com - The recently revised "Handbook for Employers: Instructions for Completing the Form I-9" notes: "Employment is often the magnet that attracts individuals to reside in the United States illegally. The purpose of the employer sanctions law is to remove this magnet by requiring employers to hire only individuals who may legally work here.
06/25/2008 -- BUSINESS OWNERS FEEL THE FIRST BITE OF EXPANDED TAX
Houston Chronicle - Thousands of business owners paid the state's expanded business tax Monday, many complaining that their tax burden was more than doubled under the new levy.
06/25/2008 -- REPORT: WORKPLACE INJURIES UNREPORTED
Insurance Journal - A congressional report found two out of three work-related illnesses and injuries may be going unreported, and called into question federal regulators' claims that workplace problems are declining.
06/25/2008 -- GAS PRICE CRISIS COULD REVOLUTIONIZE U.S. WORKPLACE
Workforce Management - Soaring gas prices top economic and political agendas, so it’s natural that they also are a topic of conversation at the Society for Human Resource Management Annual Conference & Exposition in Chicago.
06/25/2008 -- SUPREME COURT RULES FOR WORKERS IN AGE BIAS SUIT
Law.com - The Supreme Court made it easier Thursday for employees to prove they have suffered discrimination because of their age. In a 7-1 ruling, the court said that when older workers are disproportionately affected by an employment decision, the employer bears the burden of explaining whether there was a reasonable explanation other than age for the company's action.
06/25/2008 -- SMALL BUSINESSES FIGHT TO SURVIVE IN A TOUGH ECONOMY
Small business is risky business these days. Costs are rising, profits are shrinking and the ability of the big guys to keep prices relatively lower is drawing away customers. Things are so bad that many small enterprises, which account for about 99 percent of the country's businesses, say they are hanging by a thread that may soon snap.
06/17/2008 -- OSHA INVESTIGATING TRUCK DRIVER'S DEATH IN DALLAS CRANE ACCIDENT
Dallas Morning News - The construction worker who was killed Wednesday when a hook snapped off a crane had only been employed with TXI of Dallas for a short time.
06/17/2008 -- BUSINESSES WARNED OF CORPORATE COMPLIANCE SCAM
Texas Secretary of State Phil Wilson today warned businesses across the state about a company’s solicitation to complete corporate meeting minutes on behalf of Texas corporations for a fee. Despite the implications contained in the solicitation from “State Corporate Compliance”, Texas corporations are not required by law to file corporate minutes with the Secretary of State.
06/17/2008 -- STUDY: BUSINESSES MAKING EARLY OFFERS FOR INJURY CLAIMS SAVE
Insurance Journal - There are strong advantages to a system in which businesses facing personal injury lawsuits could promptly pay injured parties for out-of-pocket medical expenses and lost wages while avoiding long court battles, high legal fees and "pain and suffering" damages, according to a new study.
06/17/2008 -- HISPANICS SUFFER HIGHEST US WORKPLACE DEATH RATES
Reuters - Hispanic workers in the United States are killed at work at a 25 percent higher rate than other U.S. workers with many deaths coming in construction, federal health officials said on Thursday.
06/17/2008 -- ERISA ATTACKS THREATEN SELF-INSURED HEALTH BENEFITS
Risk and Insurance - Self-insured employers spending millions of dollars for employee health benefits face increased new costs and regulatory hurdles from state legislatures searching for ways to carry out their healthcare reform initiatives.
06/03/2008 -- TIPS FOR SELECTING A THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATOR
CCH.com - Your manager has asked you to do research on hiring a third-party administrator (TPA) to process employees’ health plan claims. When selecting a TPA, what factors should an employer evaluate?
06/03/2008 -- LAW PROHIBITS EMPLOYER AND INSURER GENETIC DISCRIMINATION
American Medical News - After 13 years of effort by supporters, a measure designed to protect Americans from discrimination based on their genetic information has become law. President Bush signed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act on May 21.
06/03/2008 -- RISK MANAGEMENT BROKEN IN MANY ORGANIZATIONS, SAYS GARTNER
Government Technology - Many enterprises continue to take a narrow "siloed" approach to risk assessment and management, often developing risk practices that are not effective or appropriate to their specific needs, according to Gartner.
06/03/2008 -- URBAN–RURAL DIFFERENCES IN WORK DISABILITY AFTER AN OCCUPATIONAL INJURY
In comparison with their urban counterparts, people living in rural areas have been found to experience higher rates of morbidity and mortality and have inferior health outcomes after illnesses and injuries. The current study sought to determine if this trend extends to work-disability outcomes after work-related injuries.
06/03/2008 -- HIGH COURT OKS SUITS AGAINST RETALIATION OVER WORKPLACE CLAIMS
Law.com - In a pair of workplace discrimination cases, the Supreme Court on Tuesday made it easier for workers to sue employers who retaliate against them for reporting bias.
05/26/2008 -- SAFETY HANDBOOKS DO NOT PREVENT INJURIES!
American Chronicle - True or False, Employers can write the most detailed Safety Handbook, hire the most experience supervisors and managers, and their safety program can still be a dismal failure? True. Contrary to popular belief Safety Handbooks do not impact how, when, where or why employees are injured.
05/26/2008 -- OSHA TO BEGIN ENFORCING RULE REQUIRING EMPLOYERS TO PAY FOR MOST PPE
National Electrical Contractors Association - Although the new rule states that employers are responsible to pay for almost all types of personal protective equipment (PPE) used on the job by their workers was published last fall with an effective date of February 13, 2008, OSHA will actually begin enforcing it on May 15.
05/26/2008 -- TEXAS ADVISORY PANEL CALLS FOR STATE OVERSIGHT OF PPO HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS
Dallas Morning News - A state commission, citing the fact that four out of five insured Texans now receive health care through preferred provider organizations, urged the Legislature on Wednesday to protect consumers by placing all PPOs under state regulation for the first time.
05/26/2008 -- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PROPOSES NEW RULES FOR COMMERCIAL DRIVERS
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration proposes to revise the standards for mandatory training requirements for entry-level operators of commercial motor vehicles in interstate operations who are required to possess a commercial driver’s license.
05/26/2008 -- CONGRESS PASSES ANTI-GENETIC DISCRIMINATION BILL
Find Law - Congress sent President Bush a bill Thursday forbidding employers and insurance companies from using genetic tests showing people are at risk of developing cancer, heart disease or other ailments to reject their job applications, promotions or health care coverage, or in setting premiums.
05/20/2008 -- NEXT LEVEL SAFETY CULTURES
Occupational Health and Safety - Senior managers have become increasingly aware of Safety’s potential returns, well beyond loss reduction. And Safety culture is an especially hot topic among leaders who sense something is missing— that performance could be better. Their instincts are probably right.
05/20/2008 -- PENTAGON WORKERS' COMP PLAN BLASTED
CNN.com - The chairman of a House panel says a Pentagon workers' compensation program for civilian employees in Iraq and Afghanistan is a "flagrant abuse of taxpayer dollars." Rep. Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said the program is inefficient and amounts to millions of dollars in "excessive profits" over the past five years for private insurance companies and defense contractors.
05/20/2008 -- DALLAS-BASED RESTAURANT CHAIN SETTLES EEOC LAWSUIT
Wired PR News.com - Razzoo’s Cajun Café, a Dallas-based Cajun food restaurant chain, will pay one million dollars and provide remedial relief to settle a sex discrimination lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”).
05/20/2008 -- PREVENTING WORKPLACE VIOLENCE
Unhappy employees can result in more than decreased productivity – in extreme cases, their perceptions and actions can lead to violence in the workplace. OccupationalHazards.com spoke to an expert who shed light on how and why employees become capable of workplace violence, and what management can do to prevent potentially dangerous situations from escalating.
05/13/2008 -- SURVEY FINDS SMALL BUSINESSES SPENDING WORK COMP DOLLARS WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT THEY’RE BUYING
Too many small business decision-makers appear to be spending money on workers' compensation insurance coverage without understanding how workers' compensation insurance works, what they get for their premium payments, or why they continue coverage with a particular carrier according to a recent national survey.
05/13/2008 -- HEALTHCARE COSTS PINCH EMPLOYERS
Los Angeles Times - U.S. manufacturers who provide health insurance spend an average of $2.38 per worker per hour on healthcare -- more than twice as much as their foreign competitors, an analysis released Tuesday found. The study provides support for the now-familiar lament of employers -- that rising healthcare costs are eating into the corporate bottom line.
05/13/2008 -- THE ENERGY REPORT 2008
The Energy Report is a reference tool for anyone seeking to understand the current Texas energy environment. Texas remains at the forefront of the nation’s energy industry. The direction Texas takes in energy policy will help mark the path for the nation. Texas — and the rest of the world, for that matter — almost certainly will meet future energy demands using a wide variety of resources, and our state is well positioned to benefit from the increasing diversification of the nation’s energy portfolio.
05/13/2008 -- CULTURE, LEADERSHIP CRITICAL TO REDUCING WORKPLACE INJURIES
Occupational Hazards - Carmen Bianco, an executive consultant with Behavioral Safety Technology (BST), asserted that company leaders significantly can influence the effectiveness of injury reduction programs through the cultures they create. If the culture only focuses on productivity, for example, there isn’t much room for safety, Bianco said. But when companies successfully communicate that productivity cannot exist without safety, they can better reduce on-the-job injuries.
05/13/2008 -- FREE DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE KIT
The purpose of this Drug-Free Workplace Kit is to provide public and private workplaces, from small to large and from local to global, with credible, authoritative, evidence-based information, resources, and tools for producing and maintaining drug-free workplace policies and programs.
05/06/2008 -- GAUGING THE ECONOMY
NCCI Holdings - This edition of Gauging the Economy examines the effects of slowing job growth, continued wage gains, the quickening pace of medical care prices and challenging times for investment income. In addition, NCCI examines the industry’s limited exposure to the subprime mortgage mess, and updates the latest investment and interest rate outlook.
05/06/2008 -- WORKERS’ COMPENSATION DECISION DRAWS FIRE
Dallas Blog - Key legislators this week sharply criticized last year’s controversial Texas Supreme Court decision in the case Entergy v. Summers, which established that an injured worker could not sue a premises owner for punitive damages when that owner also meets the definition of a general contractor and has purchased a worker’s compensation insurance plan.
05/06/2008 -- COURT SHOULD REVERSE SELF FOR WORKERS’ SAKES
Austin American Statesman - The Texas Supreme Court has agreed to reconsider its ruling that gave companies new protection from liability for injuries to workers on their property who are not their employees. The court should reverse its earlier ruling because it has misapplied state law and given plant owners less incentive to maintain safe workplaces.
05/06/2008 -- DEMOCRATS IN SENATE SEEK TO RAISE OSHA PENALTIES ON EMPLOYERS
Insurance Journal - People can get more prison time for mail fraud than for violating safety standards that can kill workers, Democratic senators said this week as they called for tougher punishment for workplace fatalities and stricter enforcement from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
05/06/2008 -- MOST COMPANIES OPPOSE SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, STATE COVERAGE MANDATES
Watson Wyatt - Most U.S. companies do not support a single-payer health care system or state legislation mandating coverage. Instead, they prefer relying on private-sector solutions, according to research by Watson Wyatt Worldwide, a leading global consulting firm, and the National Business Group on Health.
04/29/2008 -- STATE BUSINESS TAX DRAWS CONCERN
Dallas Morning News - Hundreds of thousands of Texas businesses, fresh from paying their federal income taxes earlier this month, are now busy calculating what they owe the state under its new business tax – and many don't like what the numbers show.
04/29/2008 -- TEXAS INSURANCE PREMIUMS JUMP 40 PERCENT FROM 2001 TO 2005
Austin American Statesman - Texas families saw their health insurance premiums soar 40 percent in five years — 10 times faster than their incomes increased, according to a report being released today by a national foundation that promotes health care improvement.
04/29/2008 -- SENATORS SEEK GAO INVESTIGATION INTO WORKPLACE INJURIES, ILLNESSES REPORTING
Occupational Health and Safety - On April 22, U.S. Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-MA), chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and Patty Murray (D-WA), chair of the Senate HELP Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety, asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate whether OSHA is effectively working to ensure that employers are accurately reporting injuries and illnesses in the workplace.
04/29/2008 -- LAWMAKERS LOOK AT INJURED WORKER RULING
KVUE.com - Relatives of those killed in a 2005 BP plant explosion and other industrial accident victims urged the Legislature on Monday to undo a Texas Supreme Court ruling in a high-profile workplace injury case.
04/22/2008 -- TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION COLLECTS NEARLY $10 MILLION IN BACK WAGES
San Antonio Business Journal - The Texas Workforce Commission has recovered $9.9 million in unpaid wages on behalf of workers across the state in 2006 and 2007. The state agency collected the back wages through its enforcement of the Texas Payday Law, which requires private employers to provide workers with compensation in a timely manner.
04/22/2008 -- TEXAS PASSES NEW YORK ON FORTUNE 500 LIST
Dallas Morning News - Texas is king of the hill when it comes to corporate headquarters. The Lone Star State passed New York as home to the most big companies in the latest list compiled by Fortune magazine. Texas now boasts 58 headquarters, three more than New York, the previous No. 1, and California, with 52.
04/22/2008 -- SMALL FIRMS HIT HARDEST BY RISING ENERGY COSTS
Small firms are hardest hit by rising energy costs, according to a study released today by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The small manufacturing and small commercial sectors top the list of burdened industries, on an energy cost per value of industry shipments and an energy cost per sales basis.
04/22/2008 -- CULTURE, LEADERSHIP CRITICAL TO REDUCING WORKPLACE INJURIES
Occupational Hazards - Carmen Bianco, an executive consultant with Behavioral Safety Technology (BST), asserted that company leaders significantly can influence the effectiveness of injury reduction programs through the cultures they create. If the culture only focuses on productivity, for example, there isn’t much room for safety, Bianco said. But when companies successfully communicate that productivity cannot exist without safety, they can better reduce on-the-job injuries.
04/16/2008 -- CONFUSION, FRUSTRATION RAMPANT OVER NEW BUSINESS TAX
Austin American Statesman - With rising fuel prices and a slowing economy, these are tough times for Bilbo Transports Inc., a family-owned trucking company based in Irving. Times are about to get tougher, company Vice President Mike George said, when a new state business tax comes due a month from today.
04/16/2008 -- DALLAS COMPANY AGREES TO PAY $1.5 MILLION IN BACK WAGES AND SALARY TO RESOLVE DISCRIMINATION ALLEGATIONS
Dallas based Vought Aircraft Industries Inc. has entered into a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) to settle allegations of hiring discrimination based on race and gender and agreed to pay $1.5 million in back wages to 1,045 applicants.
04/16/2008 -- TEXAS SUPREME COURT TO REHEAR ENTERGY WORKERS' COMP CASE
Insurance Journal - The Texas Supreme Court has agreed to rehear a case from Jefferson County dealing with the scope of the state workers' compensation law. The court has not yet set the date for new arguments but said April 5 it will rehear Entergy Gulf States Incorporated versus John Summers.
04/16/2008 -- ECONOMIC BURDEN OF HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASING FOR SMALL EMPLOYERS PROVIDING HEALTH INSURANCE
RAND - The economic burden of providing health insurance for workers increased more for small businesses than for large ones from 2000 to 2005, but the spike did not cause a significant number of small employers to abandon the benefit, according to a study issued today by the RAND Corporation.
04/07/2008 -- TOUGHER PENALTIES, WORKER SAFETY LAWS DISCUSSED AT SENATE HEARING
Occupational Hazards - Companies demonstrating a “dangerous pattern of disregarding worker safety” must receive stricter penalties and stronger criminal provisions, a trade union expert told members of the Senate Employment and Workplace Protections Subcommittee of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee during an April 1 hearing.
04/07/2008 -- DALLAS-FORT WORTH LEADS METRO AREAS IN NUMERICAL GROWTH
Dallas-Fort Worth had the largest numeric gain of any metro area between 2006 and 2007, increasing by 162,250, according to July 1, 2007, estimates of metro area population size and growth released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. Atlanta (151,063), Phoenix (132,513) and Houston (120,544) rounded out the metro areas with a gain of at least 100,000.
04/07/2008 -- DILLARD’S TO PAY HALF MILLION TO SETTLE EEOC CLASS SEXUAL HARASSMENT SUIT
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced it has settled its class sexual harassment lawsuit against the Dillard’s department store chain for $500,000 and substantial remedial relief on behalf of a class of 12 female former employees who were sexually harassed by an assistant store manager in two states.
04/07/2008 -- NLRB RULING SIGNALS TIME FOR COMPANIES TO REVIEW E-MAIL POLICIES
Law.com - In what is clearly a positive development for employers, in December 2007 the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) settled a long-running dispute, and definitively held that an employer may prohibit a union, or employees seeking to solicit or organize for a union, from using company e-mail systems to communicate -- an issue that has been subject to debate for a number of years.
04/07/2008 -- ALCOHOLISM PREVALENT AMONG HOSPITALITY WORKERS, STUDY SAYS
Occupational Hazards - In a new study, George Washington University researchers concluded that 15 percent of workers in the hospitality/leisure industry suffer from serious alcohol-related problems, resulting in the highest alcohol dependence rate of all studied sectors. In contrast, approximately 8 percent of the U.S. population has a diagnosable alcohol problem.
03/25/2008 -- PUT YOUR DISASTER PLAN TO THE TEST
Buildings.com - The problem with disasters is that you never know when they're going to happen. Today? Tomorrow? Next year? Never? The only way to deal with them is to prepare for them. Establishing an in-case-of-emergency plan is a necessary first step.
03/25/2008 -- POLITICAL PENDULUM SWINGS TOWARD STRICTER REGULATION
Wall Street Journal - The idea that less regulation is better for the economy has held sway in Washington since the Reagan administration. Now that consensus is crumbling, posing a potentially costly challenge to business no matter who wins the White House in November.
03/25/2008 -- TALENT SHORTAGE EMERGES AS NO. 1 EMPLOYER CONCERN
PR Newswire - A shortage of skilled and talented workers has become the most pressing concern among employers, supplanting the perennial leading problem, rising cost of health care, according to the 14th annual Top Five Total Rewards Priorities survey conducted by Deloitte Consulting LLP (Deloitte) and the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists (ISCEBS).
03/25/2008 -- UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS SURGE IN LATEST WEEK
CNNMoney.com - New filings for unemployment claims rose more than expected last week, matching the highest level since 2005, according to a report released Thursday by the Labor Department.
03/25/2008 -- STARBUCKS RULING: PAY $105 MILLION IN TIPS CASE
SignOnSanDiego.com - A San Diego Superior Court judge ruled yesterday that Starbucks has to pay nearly $106 million in restitution to an estimated 120,000 current and former baristas in California because the coffee company illegally allowed supervisors to share in tip pools over the past eight years.
03/18/2008 -- DID EMPLOYEE'S DEPRESSION STEM FROM WORK INJURY?
HR.blr.com - When an employee suffers from depression in addition to a work-related physical injury, it can be difficult to determine whether the depression stems from the injury or from other causes in life outside the workplace. A Texas court of appeals recently faced that type of quandary.
03/18/2008 -- COMP INSURERS FACE DECLINING RATES: S&P
Business Insurance - Workers compensation insurers are likely to face falling rates this year, according to an article published Thursday by New York-based Standard & Poor’s Corp. The article—“Weakening Rates Could Squeeze U.S. Workers Comp Insurers Later This Year”—says rates have been declining, which is significantly reducing the margins of workers comp insurers.
03/18/2008 -- OSHA NOTIFIES WORKPLACES WITH HIGH INJURY AND ILLNESS RATES
The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health has notified 14,000 employers nationwide that their injury and illness rates are considerably higher than the national average.
03/18/2008 -- INSURERS' PROFITS IN TEXAS PROMPT CALLS FOR LOWER RATES
Dallas Morning News - Texas insurers were virtually untouched by the slowing economy in 2007 as they recorded one of their most profitable years of the decade, prompting new calls for tougher state action on homeowner rates. New financial reports released Wednesday by the Texas Department of Insurance indicated that most companies had another year of solid earnings as they marked their fifth straight year of beating or equaling a standard benchmark for reasonable profits.
03/18/2008 -- WORKPLACE BULLYING 'EPIDEMIC' WORSE THAN SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Livescience.com - Workplace bullying could cause more harm to employees than sexual harassment, researchers say. Belittling comments, exclusion from outings and criticism of work may seem relatively benign and get brushed off by business higher-ups as "kid's stuff." But the consequences to employees and even the bottom line are far from child's play.
03/11/2008 -- DROP-OFF IN COMPUTER WORKPLACE INJURIES CITED
EWEEK.com - Among the numerous perils of computer-facing work--including repetitive stress ailments such as postural syndrome, eye strain and tendonitis--carpal tunnel is the best known, as it has received the most press. During the personal computing boon of the 1990s, its frequency among white collar professionals was considered to be at epidemic levels.
03/11/2008 -- TEXAS TOWNS LEAD NATION IN LABOR FORCE GROWTH
Three Texas cities had the fastest-growing labor force in the nation from 2000 to 2005, according to a new book released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. Of cities with populations of 25,000 or more, Frisco had 73.5 percent labor force growth, followed by Cedar Park (66 percent) and McKinney (52.5 percent). These were followed by Carmel, Ind. (49.9 percent); and Dania Beach, Fla. (45 percent.
03/11/2008 -- A METHODOLOGY FOR PREDICTING PROVIDER PARTICIPATION IN WORKERS' COMPENSATION MEDICAL FEE SCHEDULES
Risk and Insurance - Researchers examine 1,676 providers in 19 states to determine if and why neurologists would accept workers' comp payments based on a fee schedule. This study by Steven E. Levine, M.D., Ph.D. and Ronald N. Kent, both California-based physicians, looks at medical practices in 19 states and finds that boycotting by specialists begins to spread when reimbursement, before any PPO discounts, is set low.
03/11/2008 -- 10 STEPS TO KEEPING THE WORKPLACE HEALTHY IN THE HEIGHT OF FLU SEASON
PR Newswire & Fox Business - With a persistent new strain of flu affecting workers nationwide, employers may need to be more assertive to help keep the workplace healthy at the height of flu season.
03/11/2008 -- RESEARCHERS EVALUATE CHANGES IN PERCEIVED HEALTH AFTER INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT
Occupational Health and Safety - A study conducted of residents living near BP's Texas City refinery, the site of an explosion that killed 15 people in 2005, suffered a perceived decline in mental and physical health following the blast.
03/04/2008 -- PLAN SPONSORS PAYING A LOT MORE IN FEES, STUDY FINDS
Financial Week - Average fees paid by pension plans worldwide have jumped 50% over the past five years, with active managers making up the bulk of the increase, according to a new report by Watson Wyatt Worldwide.
03/04/2008 -- FEDERAL WORKERS' COMPENSATION PROGRAM MISMANAGED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
Government Executive - A program managed by the Labor Department to compensate employees for on-the-job injuries issued $13.3 million in improper payments in 2006, according to a new report the from the Government Accountability Office.
03/04/2008 -- THE SUPREME COURT TAKES A BROAD APPROACH IN INTERPRETING THE AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT
Findlaw - Last week, the Supreme Court issued an important Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) opinion, Federal Express Corp. v. Holowecki. Specifically, the Court considered whether a plaintiff had complied with the necessary procedural formalities required under the ADEA before filing a lawsuit.
03/04/2008 -- OSHA TO INSPECT DUST-PRONE FACTORIES
Associated Press - Federal inspections will be carried out at hundreds of plants where combustible dust is a workplace hazard. OSHA reported that its sending letters to 30,000 companies that deal with combustible dust to discuss the dangers.
03/04/2008 -- VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES AND ADA: A GUIDE FOR EMPLOYERS
Between October 2001 and February, 2008, more than 30,000 veterans returned home with service-connected disabilities (e.g., amputations, burns, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and traumatic brain injuries). At least two federal laws provide important protections for veterans with disabilities.
02/25/2008 -- STUDY: MEDICAL BENEFITS ACCOUNT FOR LARGEST SHARE OF EMPLOYER COSTS
HR.BLR.com - Medical benefits accounted for the largest share of employer benefit costs at 12.1 percent in 2006, followed by retirement benefits at 10.4 percent.
02/25/2008 -- SUPREME COURT ALLOWS ERISA PLAN PARTICIPANTS TO SUE OVER LOSSES
Law. Com - The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that individual participants in the most common type of retirement plan can sue under a pension protection law to recover their losses. The unanimous decision has implications for 50 million workers with $2.7 trillion invested in 401(k) retirement plans. James LaRue of Southlake, Texas, said the value of his stock market holdings plunged $150,000 when administrators at his retirement plan failed to follow his instructions to switch to safer investments.
02/25/2008 -- THE BIG DISCRIMINATION CASE BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT
SLATE - In last year's Supreme Court sleeper case, a woman named Lily Ledbetter lost her right to sue because she didn't go to court the first time her paycheck was docked because of sex discrimination, as opposed to when she later realized she was being shortchanged.
02/25/2008 -- 10 WAYS WE GET THE ODDS WRONG
Psychology Today - Our brains are terrible at assessing modern risks. Here's how to think straight about dangers in your midst.
02/25/2008 -- THE PRICE OF PAIN
Newsweek - A new study reveals that Americans are spending record amounts on treatments for their aching backs. But are these expensive fixes a waste of money?
02/25/2008 -- PHYSICAL THERAPY IS AN EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR MANY BACK PAIN PATIENTS
Medical News Today - In contrast to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) suggesting that spine-related expenditures have increased without evidence of improvement, best evidence suggests that patients who receive physical therapy for musculoskeletal disorders, including back and neck pain, report good outcomes at a lower cost than using drugs or surgery.
02/19/2008 -- TEXAS COURT SWITCHES SIDES, ON WORKERS' COMP FOR EX-NFL STAR
Law.com & Texas Lawyer - Last July, Waco, Texas' 10th Court of Appeals rejected former Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Chad Hennings' workers' compensation claim, holding in a case of first impression that professional athletes cannot receive workers' comp. But after seeking a rehearing, Hennings has won in overtime.
02/18/2008 -- VERY STRANGE BEDFELLOWS
Galen Institute - The National Federation of Independent Business has been one of the stalwart defenders of health freedom. But its recent association with two activist liberal groups is raising eyebrows around town.
02/18/2008 -- CELL PHONE USE IN CAR LEADS TO $5.2 MILLION PAYOUT BY EMPLOYER
Daily Report - Talk isn't always cheap, as International Paper Co. learned recently when it agreed to pay $5.2 million to settle a personal injury suit related, at least in part, to one of its employees' use of a cell phone while driving.
02/18/2008 -- SCAFFOLDING HAZARDS AT NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS, WORKSITE BRING FINES
Insurance Journal - An alleged failure to protect employees from safety hazards has brought Kaufman, Texas-based Metroplex Masonry Inc. $210,000 in proposed penalties from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
02/18/2008 -- JURY AWARDS $110,000 VERDICT AGAINST HOUSTON DRY CLEANERS FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT
HR.BLR.COM - The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced today that a federal district court jury returned a verdict yesterday for the EEOC in the amount of $110,000 against a Houston dry cleaner for sexual harassment. The EEOC had charged that the owner of Bellair Cleaners, Inc., doing business as Park Avenue Cleaners, Bellair Cleaners, and Your Valet (Park Avenue Cleaners), harassed a female employee, then aged 19, and other women.
02/18/2008 -- BODY ART ON THE RISE BUT NOT SO TRENDY AT WORK
Newswise - Body art is a growing fashion trend, and while acceptable in some environments, in the workplace visible tattoos and facial piercings are often seen as unprofessional and unwanted by coworkers. “Body art can lead to stereotyping, stigmatization, and prejudices in the workplace,” said management professor Brian K. Miller, who recently teamed with two fellow Texas State University professors to conduct a scenario-based experiment on how body art is perceived at work.
02/12/2008 -- PROPOSED FMLA RULES RESOLVE KEY ISSUES
Business Insurance - Newly proposed Labor Department regulations governing the Family and Medical Leave Act will ease many administrative problems that employers have faced in trying to comply with the law, experts say. The proposed FMLA regulations, released late last week, would update rules that the Labor Department published following enactment of the 1993 law, which requires employers to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a year after the birth or adoption of a child; to care for a sick child, parent or spouse; or when an employee has a serious illness.
02/12/2008 -- TEXAS COMPANY AGREES TO PAY MORE THAN $1.5 MILLION IN BACK WAGES
A Temple, Texas company has agreed to pay $1,559,316 in overtime back wages to 570 current and former retail merchandising specialists nationwide after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found that the company had misclassified employees and did not pay overtime wages required by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
02/12/2008 -- WORKPLACE CONFLICTS TAKE A TOLL ON WORKERS
Market Day - On Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, fists may be more prevalent than flowers at some offices, researchers who focus on workplace dynamics said Thursday. "Much and more-deserved attention is being given to workplace hostility," said John A. Challenger, chief executive officer at the Chicago-based outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray and Christmas.
02/12/2008 -- EDUCATION HELPS BACK PAIN PATIENTS RETURN TO WORK, STUDY SAYS
Occupational Hazards - Health care providers can implement intensive, individual educational sessions to help patients with short-term lower back pain return to work more quickly, new research suggests.
02/12/2008 -- QUARTERLY INDICATORS: THE ECONOMY AND SMALL BUSINESS
The U.S. economy was weaker in the fourth quarter of 2007, with real GDP ending the year at a 0.6 percent annualized growth rate. Unemployment rose to 5.0 percent in December 2007, its highest level since April 2005, with nearly all of the net job gains in 2007 stemmed from service industries.
02/05/2008 -- LABOR UNIONS ARE BACK, BLS CONFIRMS
Occupational Health and Safety - The number of U.S. workers who belong to a union rose by 311,000 to 15.7 million last year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. BLS said union members accounted for 12.1 percent of employed wage and salary workers, "essentially unchanged from 12.0 percent in 2006." The growing Service Employees International Union, however, trumpeted the news, saying this is the first time in 25 years that union members' share has increased.
02/05/2008 -- THE LATEST EMPLOYMENT COST INDEX NEWS RELEASE
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Total compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.8 percent, seasonally adjusted, from September to December 2007, the same as the previous quarter. Over the year, compensation costs rose 3.3 percent, also the same as the December 2006 12-month percent change.
02/05/2008 -- SEVEN THINGS EMPLOYEES WANT MOST TO BE HAPPY AT WORK
Christian Science Monitor - Ask bosses what makes employees happy at work, and many are likely to think in terms of tangible rewards: a good salary, a pleasant office, generous benefits. Those play a role in job satisfaction, of course. But increasingly, workplace specialists are discovering that for many workers, the "happiness factor" depends heavily on intangibles, such as respect, trust, and fairness.
02/05/2008 -- CHRONICLING OSHA IN 2007: THE YEAR AHEAD
Occupational Hazards - Super Tuesday is finally here, sending voters in 24 states to the polls to cast their presidential primary ballots. There’s no doubt that safety and health stakeholders will tune in to learn the outcome, as many strongly feel that a new administration – especially a Democratic one – will impact the way OSHA operates.
02/05/2008 -- POSSIBLE HITS BY THE SUPREMES
Human Resource Executive Online - The High Court has accepted almost a dozen new employment-discrimination cases for review, in addition to several that were argued last year but have not yet been ruled on. New hurdles for employers could result.
01/28/2008 -- EMPLOYERS FAVOR PRIVATE-INDUSTRY REFORMS
Employee Benefit News - Employers don't seem to have much faith that the next president will produce significant health care reform, according to a new survey from Employee Benefit News and CBIZ Benefits & Insurance. However, they are putting their faith in some private-sector initiatives to reduce health care costs and make coverage more affordable, including onsite wellness programs, disease management and cutting medical malpractice settlements.
01/28/2008 -- INJURED EMPLOYEES WORKING LONG HOURS FACE JOB LOSS RISKS
Occupational Hazards - Employees going back to work after being injured on the job face a higher risk of losing their employment if their positions require them to work more than 12 hours a day or 60 hours a week, new research suggests.
01/28/2008 -- CONGRESS APPROVES BILL TO EXPAND FMLA FOR MILITARY FAMILIES
Business Insurance - Legislation given final congressional approval Tuesday would expand the federal Family and Medical Leave Act to allow employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave when a spouse, son, daughter or parent is on active duty in the Armed Forces or is called up for active duty in support of a contingency operation.
01/28/2008 -- REVISED TEXAS FRANCHISE TAX WEBINARS
Business taxpayers with questions about the revised Texas franchise tax can learn the basics and more during four online seminars hosted by the state Comptroller’s office on Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 4 and 5. More will be scheduled at later dates. Participants must register in advance and may choose to view all of the online sessions, or select only the presentations they need.
01/28/2008 -- TEXAS EMPLOYERS WARY OF POLICING WORKERS' IMMIGRATION STATUS
Dallas Morning News - As employers face increasing pressure from states and in the courts to more closely police Social Security numbers of undocumented workers, some in Texas say that's not their job and that such action could hammer the economy. "What if some of my best guys turn out to be illegal?" said Lisa Galvan, who runs five Luna de Noche restaurants in the Dallas area and employs 200 workers. "It is scary."
01/23/2008 -- PRELIMINARY APPROVAL FOR $6.2 MILLION PARTIAL SETTLEMENT OF HISTORIC UNION DISCRIMINATION CASE
EEOC - A federal court has granted final approval for a $6.2 million partial settlement for black and Hispanic sheet metal workers who suffered discrimination by their union, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced today.
01/23/2008 -- CHRONICLING OSHA IN 2007: CONGRESSIONAL IMPACT
Occupational Hazards - During 2007, Congress introduced legislation to compel OSHA to take immediate action on safety and health issues that were previously relegated to the back burner. For example, Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif., chairwoman of the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, introduced a measure to require OSHA to issue a rule protecting food processing workers from the chemical flavoring agent diacetyl, which has been linked to bronchiolitis obliterans, or “popcorn lung.”
01/23/2008 -- TEXAS GAINS THE MOST JOBS
Dallas Morning News - Texas added 18,600 nonfarm jobs in December, more than any other state, according to preliminary figures released Friday by the Texas Workforce Commission and the U.S. Department of Labor. But the report had some bad news as well: The state's unemployment rate rose to 4.5 percent from 4.2 percent in November. It was still below the national average of 5 percent.
01/23/2008 -- EXTENDED WORK HOURS SHOULD FACTOR INTO RETURNING WORKERS TO JOB
Occupational Health & Safety - Rehabilitation specialists guiding injured workers back to full-time employment should factor unconventional work schedules into their assessments and planning, new research suggests. Workers who are injured on the job have a harder time returning to employment if their schedules routinely require them to work extended hours, according to an Ohio State University study.
01/23/2008 -- CEO’S WEIGH IN ON BEST, WORST STATES TO DO BUSINESS
Yahoo Finance - Texas, Nevada, North Carolina Top List as Best States; California, New York, Michigan Are the Worst.
01/16/2008 -- FATALITY LEADS TO SAFETY VIOLATION PENALTIES FOR TEXAS-BASED COMPANY
Insurance Journal - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed $118,350 in penalties against Round Rock, Texas-based TECO-Westinghouse Motor Co. for the alleged failure to protect employees from safety hazards. The citation follows a fatality at the facility in July 2007.
01/16/2008 -- PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED MEDICAL BILL RULES
A public hearing regarding medical bill disputes in the workers’ compensation system will be held on Feb. 4, 2008 at the will be held at the Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers' Compensation
01/16/2008 -- EMPLOYER FMLA FRUSTRATIONS MAY RISE WITH FIRST EXTENSION
Workforce Management - Employer frustrations with a federal employee leave law may be exacerbated as it expands for the first time since its enactment in 1993.
01/16/2008 -- TIPS: SICK EMPLOYEES AT WORK
Occupational Health and Safety - As flu season gets under way, employers are gearing up for more sick employees dragging themselves -- and their germs -- in to work. According to findings of the 2007 CCH Unscheduled Absence Survey, 87 percent of employers report that sick employees who show up to work are suffering from short-term illnesses such as a cold or flu, which can be easily spread.
01/16/2008 -- IMPROVING PRODUCTIVITY: HOW TO ELIMINATE WORKPLACE CONFLICT & INSTANTLY IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY
American Chronicle - The same problems that plagued people in ancient times are still with us today. People are still rude, selfish, insensitive, and difficult -- some of the time. Unfortunately, you may be forced to work with these difficult people. That's life. In fact, a University of North Carolina survey found that 78% of the respondents think rudeness and incivility have increased in the last decade. And every one of the respondents could cite examples of co-workers who had caused workplace conflicts or treated them in a disrespectful manner.
01/07/2008 -- LOCKHEED MARTIN SETTLEMENT SENDS POWERFUL MESSAGE
SHRM - A victim of racial harassment and employment discrimination during his employment at Lockheed Martin has won $2.5 million in what the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) calls one of the largest recoveries for an individual case. The lawsuit against the Fortune 100 corporation and the world’s largest military contractor includes an agreement from the Bethesda, Md.-based company to terminate the four co-workers and the supervisor who harassed former employee and Navy veteran Charles Daniels, and to make significant policy changes to address any future discrimination, the EEOC said during a Jan. 3, 2007, news conference in Hawaii.
01/07/2008 -- EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AT HIGH RISK TO MISS WORK BECAUSE OF INJURIES
Newswise - New research suggests that at any given time, almost 10 percent of the emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics in the United States miss work because of injuries and illnesses they suffered on the job. A study examining how common these injuries are and tracking new cases of work-related injuries and illnesses in these professionals also suggests that in one year, an estimated 8.1 of every 100 emergency responders will suffer an injury or illness forcing them to miss work. Compared to data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the rate of injuries requiring work absence among these first responders far exceeds the national average of 1.3 per 100 lost-work injury cases reported in 2006.
01/07/2008 -- SAFETY PROFESSIONALS SAY PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AN ISSUE IN WORKPLACE
Welding Magazine - For the second year in a row, a survey of safety professionals has found that noncompliance with personal protective equipment (PPE) protocols continues to be an issue in the workplace. Eighty-seven percent of respondents said they had observed workers failing to wear PPE when they should have been, according to a survey of attendees at the 2007 National Safety Council (NSC) Congress, conducted by Kimberly-Clark Professional. Eighty-five percent of safety professionals answered yes to the same question in a survey undertaken by Kimberly-Clark Professional at the 2006 NSC Congress.
01/07/2008 -- MARGIN TAX WILL PACK PUNCH
Houston Chronicle - When the new Texas margin tax kicks in this year, many businesses will get hit with a surprise tax bill costing them several thousand dollars. Under a new state law that replaces the franchise tax with a margin tax, businesses will pay based on gross revenues. The number of companies paying taxes will rise to 900,000 in May 2008 from 700,000 in 2007. The amount of state business taxes paid is expected to more than double to $11.9 billion during the next two years versus $5.7 billion for the last two-year period under the outgoing franchise tax, according to the Texas Comptroller's Office.
01/07/2008 -- SURVEY: TEXAS MANUFACTURING ACTIVITY CONTINUES SLUMP
Austin Business Journal - A survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas shows activity in Texas factories continues a decline that began in early spring. According to the Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey, all current production and general business conditions indicators fell further into negative territory in December. "It's important to note that the indexes are not seasonally adjusted, and there appears to be a pattern of December weakness over the past two years," economist Fiona Sigalla said in a news release.
01/01/2008 -- SIX TIPS TO MANAGING WORKPLACE CONFLICT
CNN.com - Human resource managers report spending 24 to 60 percent of their time dealing with employee disputes. The number of violent incidents in the workplace has been increasing steadily, according to a study by the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM). Nearly 60 percent of respondents said violence had occurred in their organization during the past three years, and they identified "personality conflicts" as the leading cause.
01/01/2008 -- MAJORITY OF EMPLOYERS TO MAINTAIN STAFFING LEVELS IN 2008
USA Today - Most U.S. employers plan to keep their payrolls stable early next year, according to a survey out Wednesday that points to a steady, but not stellar, employment environment heading into 2008.
01/01/2008 -- SENATE VOTES TO EXPAND FMLA
HR.BLR.com - The U.S. Senate has voted 90-3 to approve legislation that includes a provision that would allow employees to use leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act in certain circumstances.
01/01/2008 -- ANNUAL REPORTING & DISCLOSURE; REVISION OF ANNUAL INFORMATION
The amendments contained in this document are necessary to conform the annual reporting and disclosure regulations to revisions to the Form 5500 Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan.
01/01/2008 -- DID OFFICIATING LAWSUIT CROSS THE LINE?
Star Telegram.com - A workers' compensation insurance carrier for the San Antonio school district filed a $10 million lawsuit against five officials and the Texas Association of Sports Officials, alleging their negligence led to a sideline collision and the serious brain injury of a Brackenridge High School assistant coach.
01/01/2008 -- LAWMAKERS, WORKERS CRITICIZE COURT'S LIABILITY RULING
Insurance Journal - Four lawmakers and the Texas AFL-CIO have asked the Texas Supreme Court to reverse its decision in a case they say incorrectly expands liability protections for employers under state workers' compensation laws. The court's Aug. 31 ruling in the case of Entergy vs. Summers contradicts state law, the legislators argued in a brief filed with the court.
12/14/2007 -- ECONOMIC OUTLOOK AND IMPACT ON WORKERS COMPENSATION
NCCI - Job growth is expected to slow in 2008, as the combination of weakness in housing, the recent turmoil in financial markets, and high oil prices undercut growth in both consumer spending and business investment. Slower job growth suggests less upward pressure on claim frequency since fewer inexperienced/less trained workers are added to payrolls.
12/14/2007 -- OSHA ISSUES CONFINED SPACES IN CONSTRUCTION PROPOSED RULE
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today published in the Federal Register a proposed rule to enhance the protection provided to construction employees working in confined spaces. The agency is accepting public comments on the proposed standard until January 28, 2008.
12/14/2007 -- STUDY FINDS VALUATION LINKS IN WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY
According to a recent report by investment bank Goldman Sachs JBWere, companies that failed to adequately manage workplace health and safety issues underperformed their more socially responsible counterparts. The report found that investors could have increased returns dramatically over the past four years had they incorporated WHS measures into their investment strategy.
12/14/2007 -- EMPLOYER COSTS FOR EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employer costs for employee compensation for civilian workers averaged $28.03 per hour worked in September 2007, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries, which averaged $19.56, accounted for 69.8 percent of these costs, while benefits, which averaged $8.47, accounted for the remaining 30.2 percent. Employers averaged $2.35 for life, health, and disability insurance or 8.4 percent of total compensation.
12/14/2007 -- PROPOSED REGULATION RELATING TO SERVICE PROVIDER DISCLOSURES UNDER ERISA
U.S. Department of Labor - Under ERISA, plan fiduciaries are obligated to act prudently in selecting service providers and ensure that no more than reasonable compensation is paid for services provided to plans, taking into account the direct and indirect compensation received by the service provider.
12/07/2007 -- HAS TORT REFORM WORKED TOO WELL IN TEXAS?
Insurance Journal - The Texas Legislature enacted tort reform measures in 2003 that among other things placed a $250,000 cap on non-economic damage awards against individual health care practitioners, a $250,000 cap on non-economic damages against single health care institutions and a $500,000 cap on non-economic damages against combined health care institutions in a single case.
12/07/2007 -- EEOC ISSUES FACT SHEET ON EMPLOYMENT TESTS AND SELECTION PROCEDURES
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today issued an extensive fact sheet on the application of federal anti-discrimination laws to employer tests and other selection procedures to screen applicants for hire and employees for promotion. The new technical assistance document is available on the agency’s web site.
12/07/2007 -- WORKPLACE CELL PHONE POLICIES
Inc.com - Employers can be liable for road accidents caused by worker cell phone use. A strict safety policy can help. While text messaging, photos, and Internet access have boosted the popularity of cell phones in the workplace, they've also increased the potential headaches for employers. These include everything from productivity and privacy issues, to the risks of legal liability for accidents caused by employees using cell phones for work-related calls behind the wheel.
12/07/2007 -- NO MATTER THE WORKPLACE SIZE, HANDBOOKS CAN PLAY A VITAL ROLE
Crain’s Cleveland Business - Although employee handbooks can provide protection from legal minefields, the informal culture of most small businesses often trumps a heavy reliance on rule books and policy manuals. While it’s difficult to know exactly how many small businesses rely on handbooks and policy manuals, some attorneys say that the documentation no doubt can help a company with a defense when confronted by employee or government lawsuits.
12/07/2007 -- PRESIDENTIAL RACE REVIVES WORKPLACE DEBATE
Washington Times - A Democratic victory in the 2008 presidential election would reignite the fight between big labor and big business over a contentious workplace-safety issue. The mere mention of ergonomics, the arcane science that has come to symbolize workplace injuries ranging from sore backs to carpal tunnel syndrome, can cause employers pain. But to the nation's labor unions, ergonomics — leading to the No. 1 cause of workplace injuries in the United States — is an issue of the utmost importance.
12/07/2007 -- BUSINESS LOBBY PRESSES AGENDA BEFORE ’08 VOTE
New York Times - Business lobbyists, nervously anticipating Democratic gains in next year’s elections, are racing to secure final approval for a wide range of health, safety, labor and economic rules, in the belief that they can get better deals from the Bush administration than from its successor.
11/27/2007 -- TEXAS JOBLESS RATE DROPS TO 4.1% - LOWEST IN 31 YEARS
DallasNews.com - Texas may be insulated from the worst of the subprime mortgage mess and the fears of a weakening national economy, but it's already feeling some of the pain. Friday's October jobs figures for the state show continued growth – but at a much slower pace than the robust job creation the state enjoyed in 2006.
11/27/2007 -- CALIFORNIA COMPANY FINED $100,000 FOR FAILURE TO HAVE WORKERS COMP INSURANCE
The Modesto Bee - The owners of Mallard's Restaurant in Modesto will have to pay a $100,000 state citation for failure to have workers compensation insurance, while an investigation into other restaurant practices continues.
11/27/2007 -- REVISED RULE FOR EMPLOYERS THAT HIRE IMMIGRANTS
New York Times - The Bush administration will suspend its legal defense of a new rule issued in August to punish employers who hire illegal immigrants, conceding a hard-fought opening round in a court battle over a central measure in its strategy to curb illegal immigration according to government papers filed late Friday in federal court. Instead, the administration plans to revise the rule to try to meet concerns raised by a federal judge and issue it again by late March, hoping to pass court scrutiny on the second try.
11/27/2007 -- US SUPREME COURT HEARS ARGUEMENTS IN ERISA RETIREMENT PLAN CASE
JURIST - The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments Monday in LaRue v. DeWolff, Boberg & Associates a case where the Court considered whether the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) allows an employee to sue for losses incurred when administrators of his retirement plan ignore his instructions on how to invest his retirement money.
11/27/2007 -- COURT: TELECOMMUTERS ELIGIABLE FOR WORKERS' COMP
Jacksonsun.com - Telecommuters or employees who work at home are entitled to workers' compensation benefits if they are injured while working, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled. The decision issued on Friday was the first time the high court applied the same compensation laws to employees who don't work in a traditional office or factory. However, the court ruled that the Nashville woman who brought the case was not due compensation because the injuries she suffered were not work-related. Some believe the ruling could result in more claims by people who work at home.
11/14/2007 -- OSHA ANNOUNCES EMPLOYER-PAID PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FINAL RULE
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA) today announced a final rule on employer-paid personal protective equipment (PPE). Under the rule, all PPE, with a few exceptions, will be provided at no cost to the employee. OSHA anticipates that this rule will have substantial safety benefits that will result in more than 21,000 fewer occupational injuries per year. The rule will be published in the Federal Register on November 15, 2007.
11/14/2007 -- NCCI EXAMINES EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT OF YOUNGER VS. OLDER WORKERS
NCCI Holdings Inc., - The emergency room (ER) is often the first stop for workers who are injured on the job. The ER provides initial treatment for a wide range of injuries and illnesses, some of a routine nature and others that are potentially life-threatening or require immediate attention. This study examines the extent to which the age of an injured worker is a factor in both the utilization of emergency services (number of ER services per claim) and the price of those services (measured in terms of payment per service). The study uses data on workers compensation claims and related medical detail for the period 1996–2003.
11/14/2007 -- MRSA AND THE WORKPLACE
Staphylococcus aureus, often referred to simply as "staph," is a type of bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Sometimes, staph can cause an infection. Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infections in the United States. Most of these skin infections are minor (such as pustules and boils) and can be treated without antibiotics. However, staph bacteria also can cause serious infections (such as surgical wound infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia).
11/14/2007 -- INSURING FOR WORKPLACE VIOLENCE
Risk Management Magazine - Incidents of workplace violence can be devastating for a company's reputation and relationship with its employees. Employees generally expect that they will be provided with a safe working environment, and reasonable employers aim to provide one. When violence does occur, however, the human tragedy frequently yields financial difficulty, lawsuits and liability. Many employers do not realize that their insurance companies may defend and pay to settle workplace violence lawsuits. Obtaining insurance recovery may be important not only for the employer, but for the victim as well. Although some employers seem to have deep pockets, many of those pockets are actually quite shallow in light of the loss as the cost of care for survivors of workplace violence can reach millions of dollars.
11/14/2007 -- DHS PUBLISHES CHEMICALS OF INTEREST LIST FOR CHEMICAL FACILITY ANTI-TERRORISM STANDARDS
The Department of Homeland Security today released Appendix A of the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS), a critical element of its chemical security efforts. The appendix contains a list of chemicals that, if possessed by a facility in a specified quantity, trigger a requirement to complete and submit an easy-to-use, online consequence assessment tool called a Top-Screen.
11/06/2007 -- FLUSHING OUT THE FREQUENT FLYERS
Risk and Insurance - In 2001, the Houston Independent School District had 150 employees with five or more previous claims under their belts and who were out of work collecting workers' compensation. One person had racked up 17 claims over the previous five years.
11/06/2007 -- TEN WAYS TO AVOID AGE BIAS LANDMINES DURING THE INTERVIEW PROCESS
TechRepublic - The IT industry can be a cruel career sector. According to an industry survey just a few years ago, tech professionals are viewed as old and seniors (in terms of age) when they hit their early to mid-40s. And that isn’t the worst of it — while older professionals in most industries are valued for having more experience and expertise, it’s the opposite within the tech community.
11/06/2007 -- MAKING EMPLOYEE HANDBOOKS A PRIORITY
Professional Roofing - When is the last time you reviewed or updated your employee handbook? Do you even have an employee handbook? Have you ever? Although thinking about an employee handbook may get lost on what surely is a long list of employment-related (and other) concerns, you should consider moving it up on your list.
11/06/2007 -- REDUCING SLIPS, TRIPS AND FALLS IN STAIRWAYS
Occupational Hazards - With over 8 million people treated for fall-related injuries in 2004, falls are the leading cause of nonfatal unintentional injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms, according to the All Injury Program, a cooperative program involving the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. A combination of deficiencies in design, lighting, visibility and attention are usually the culprits in stairway slips, trips and falls.
11/06/2007 -- WORKPLACE INJURIES AND ILLNESSES IN 2006
Nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses among private industry employers in 2006 occurred at a rate of 4.4 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers—a decline from 4.6 cases in 2005. Similarly, the number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses reported in 2006 declined to 4.1 million cases, compared to 4.2 million cases in 2005. These findings were reported today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor.
10/31/2007 -- MANAGING LITIGATION RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH EMPLOYEE DISCHARGE DECISIONS
The Metropolitan Corprate Counsel - Virtually all states have adopted the doctrine of employment at-will. This means that an employer may, without notice, terminate an employee for any reason or no reason at all. There are well-known exceptions to the employment at-will doctrine. For example, anti-discrimination statutes prohibit terminating an employee on the basis of his or her race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability or other protected characteristics. Most states prohibit terminating an employee in retaliation for asserting his or her workers' compensation rights or for reporting the employer's alleged misconduct to a law enforcement agency.
10/31/2007 -- BUSINESSES NERVOUS THAT IMPORT SAFETY SCARES WILL LEAD TO STIFF NEW PENALITIES
The Hill - Retailers and manufacturers are pressing for wholesale changes to a bill backed by Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) that would increase penalties on companies violating the Consumer Product Safety Act and require more public disclosure about allegedly defective products.
10/31/2007 -- HOW COMPANIES CAN ENCOURAGE INNOVATION
Christian Science Monitor - "We're moving from an industrial economy to a creative economy," says Richard Florida, author of "The Rise of the Creative Class," although he notes that the transformation is still in its infancy. The creative sector, which he says is made up of "people who think for a living," includes such fields as science, technology, arts, culture, design, law, healthcare, and education. These creative people, he adds, "provide a critical stimulus for economic growth."
10/31/2007 -- SEXUAL HARRASSMENT HAS A BIG IMPACT ON SMALL BUSINESS
OCRegister - The $11.6 million verdict in the Knicks case came almost 16 years after Anita Hill accused Clarence Thomas of sexual misconduct. This case is a clear reminder that workplace harassment is still a serious problem. More than 12,000 complaints were filed in 2006, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. And last year, victims of sexual harassment received almost $50 million in jury awards.
10/31/2007 -- STAPH INFECTIONS AND THE WORKPLACE
Staphylococcus aureus, often referred to simply as "staph," is a type of bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Sometimes, staph can cause an infection. Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infections in the United States. Most of these skin infections are minor (such as pustules and boils) and can be treated without antibiotics. However, staph bacteria also can cause serious infections (such as surgical wound infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia).
10/22/2007 -- EEOC ALERTS PUBLIC TO E-MAIL 'PHISHING' SCAM
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) late today notified the business community and general public to a "phishing" e-mail circulating to companies that purports to be from the federal agency regarding a harassment complaint. The bogus e-mail contains a Trojan Horse Virus that is likely to harm a recipient's computer if the user clicks on the referenced web link and/or downloads the attached file. The phony e-mail to employers -- being circulated under the subject "Harassment Complaint Update For"-- contains links where the respondent can allegedly access details of a fake discrimination claim. The EEOC has reported the issue to appropriate authorities.
10/22/2007 -- STAPH DEATHS: NOW MAY BE A GOOD TIME TO CLEAN WORKPLACE KEYBOARDS
Computerworld - On Wednesday, two days after a Virginia high school senior infected with a drug-resistant strain of bacteria died, an e-mail circulated to all the principals and custodial staff of the 11,000-student Bedford County Public School District from Victor Gosnell, the district's director of technology. The e-mail included a reminder: It's OK to lightly spray or wipe a keyboard and mouse.
10/22/2007 -- WHY EMPLOYERS SHOULD CARE ABOUT THEIR WORKPLACE
WSJ CarrerJournal.com - When I first started writing a column on workplace issues for this newspaper 16 years ago, the company executives who spent much time thinking about workplace quality could have met in a phone booth. Who cares? That was the private response of many managers -- at companies big and small -- to the idea of engaging workers' hearts and minds. Most saw little relationship between employee attitudes and the bottom line. Now, that viewpoint is almost as out-of-date as the phone booth.
10/22/2007 -- U.S. COMPANIES FIGHTING FEWER LEGAL BATTLES: SURVEY
Washington Post.com - U.S. companies are getting hit with fewer new lawsuits and initiating less litigation, according to a survey released on Monday. The poll of in-house law departments suggests corporate litigation may have slowed, although big companies still find themselves juggling plenty of court cases, particularly patent and product liability disputes.
10/22/2007 -- A GUIDE TO THE NEW PROPOSED RULES FOR CAFETERIA PLANS
Health Insurance Underwriter - This article on the new proposed regulations of cafeteria plans is critical to your career. “Yeah right, Ric, sure it is -- just like the state regs on insurance, ERISA, HIPAA, HRAs, COBRA and HSAs that I am required to know!” Okay, so I was overstating the urgency of reading this article a tad. Since your time is valuable, I will dive right in. I will review the basics of cafeteria plans for new agents, and this shall serve to refresh your compliance-cluttered mind.
10/22/2007 -- HOW TO READ A MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET
American Lung Association - When a worker is given information by an employer on a hazardous substance, it will often be in the form of a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). The MSDS is prepared by the product's manufacturer and provides basic information on the chemical's physical properties and related health effects. The MSDS provides guidance on using, storing and handling substances safely on the job and in emergencies such as fires and spills. Unfortunately, information presented on an MSDS may be incomplete. This is particularly true for information on health effects that workers may experience from low-level chemical exposure over a long period of time.
10/22/2007 -- CALCULATING THE COST OF ABSENCE
Risk and Insurance - It makes intuitive sense that when an employee is not at work because of an illness, injury or another issue, there is an impact on the company's productivity and, therefore, the bottom line. But what exactly is that impact? And, more to the point, how should companies mitigate that impact by keeping employees healthy and on the job?
10/15/2007 -- WORKERS SAY THEIR EMPLOYER IS PREPARED FOR EMERGENCY
Reliable Plant - More Americans (61 percent) believe their employer is prepared to deal with emergency situations, compared with their family, at 57 percent, and their community, at 50 percent, according to a national survey of American workers’ attitudes on safety issues released October 15 by the National Safety Council at its annual safety and health Congress in Chicago.
10/15/2007 -- RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS INCREASE
USA Today - Mikhael Rozenberg, an Orthodox Jew, had been working at Vonage Holdings Corp. for a couple of weeks in the fall of 2005 when the High Holidays forced him to miss a portion of a training session. Vonage didn't allow him to make up for the missed time and told him the only available position required him to work on Saturdays, according to a lawsuit filed on his behalf by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. That would mean working on the day that God put aside for rest, according to Rosenberg's religious beliefs.
10/15/2007 -- DEPRESSION AMOUNG ADULTS EMPLOYED BY OCCUPATIONAL CATEGORY
Depression can seriously impact a person’s ability to perform routine activities at work. It negatively affects U.S. industry through lost productivity, employee absenteeism, and low morale. U.S. companies lose an estimated $30 to $44 billion dollars per year because of employee depression. Research shows that the rate of depression varies by occupation and industry.
10/15/2007 -- IT REALLY CAN BE A CRIME TO FILE AN INCORRECT FORM 5500
PPAblog - A Friend of mine had a good question today from an accountant, who wanted to know if there is any penalty for filing Form 5500 with just a little bit of incorrect information. Congress answered this question with 28 U.S.C. 1027, and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals provides a pretty unequivocal explanation of how this Code section applies to Form 5500.
10/15/2007 -- EMPLOYERS TRY "NO EMAIL" DAYS, BUT WORKERS ARE FIGHTING BACK
Wall Street Journal - When U.S. Cellular's chief operating officer, Jay Ellison, imposed a "no email Friday" rule at his company, he thought it would ease workers' overload. Instead, he got a rebellion. Among many irate responses, Kathy Volpi, a marketing director, confronted Mr. Ellison and "just ripped me," he says. "She really gave me a piece of her mind." Ms. Volpi says that at the time the ban seemed like a needless obstacle. "I thought, 'He just doesn't understand how much work we have to get done, and how much easier' " it is when using email.
10/15/2007 -- ARTHRITIS TAKES TOLL IN WORKPLACE
Chicago Sun Times - A federal study is documenting the terrible toll arthritis is taking in the workplace. About one in three adults who have arthritis say it affects the amount or type of work they can do -- or whether they can even work at all. The percentages of employees who say their work is limited by arthritis range from 25 percent in Nevada to 51 percent in Kentucky.
10/03/2007 -- OSHA FINES 4 CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES FOR TEXAS WORKSITE DEATH
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fined four construction companies $119,550 following an investigation into fatality at a Dallas, Texas, worksite. OSHA announced it issued citations to Satterfield & Pontikes Construction Inc. in Houston; Okie Foundation Drilling Co. Inc. and Rent-A-Crane of Oklahoma Inc. in Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Soto Rebar Construction in Dallas.
10/03/2007 -- CONSUMER ELECTRONICS: A THREAT TO THE WORKPLACE?
PC World - IT security professionals need to take steps to properly manage how employee-owned consumer devices are used in the workplace, analysts warned at Gartner's IT security summit in London this week. With powerful consumer devices becoming increasingly ubiquitous in the enterprise, and homeworking on the increase, Gartner said it was important that technology privileges reflected genuine need to avoid security problems.
10/03/2007 -- EMPLOYERS SEE VALUE IN HELPING THOSE LAID OFF
Wall Street Journal - A growing number of employers give laid-off staffers something extra to ease the pain of their job loss: continued access to employee-assistance programs.
10/03/2007 -- WORK CITED AS THE BEST PRESCRIPTION FOR BACK PAIN SUFFERERS
Ergoweb - A new report suggests that staying at work or returning to work early offer the fastest road to recovery from back pain and other conditions in the family of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
10/03/2007 -- PUCH THE BOSS, GET WORKERS' COMP?
AZcentral.com - Punch the boss or that annoying co-worker, then collect workers' comp if you get hurt?
10/03/2007 -- SQUABBLING OVER THE ADA
Risk and Insurance - Fifteen years after the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the courts and employers are still at odds over how the law should be applied in the workplace. Thus far, the only certainty is that there are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to the ADA.
09/20/2007 -- WHY CLINTON EMBRACED EMPLOYER-BASED INSURANCE
Wall Street Journal - Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said in drafting a new health-care plan she considered doing away with the employer-based system but concluded that people like it. "We looked at every permutation of how you get to universal health care," the New York senator said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. "There's great attachment to the employer-based system, even though it is eroding." Since World War II, employers have benefited from tax breaks for providing health insurance to workers, with neither employer nor employee counting the value of the insurance as income.
09/20/2007 -- TEXAS WORKERS' COMP WEEKLY BENEFIT RATE SET AT $712
Insurance Journal - The Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers' Compensation announced that the workers' compensation state average weekly wage for Fiscal Year 2008 is set at $712 and is effective for dates of injury from Oct.1, 2007 through Sept.30, 2008.
09/20/2007 -- AMERICA'S DEADLIEST JOBS
Thomas.net - Overall, workplace fatalities edged down last year to 5,703 from 5,734 in 2005, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For many of us, the most dangerous part of the workday is the commute, but for many others, each workday is risky business.
09/20/2007 -- WHOLE FOODS EMPLOYEES GO BARGAIN HUNTING FOR HEALTH CARE
Don't you hate that high deductible on your insurance policy? You have to pay thousands of dollars before insurance covers your care. That's terrible, some say, but is it really? A version of it may be the key to lowering costs and putting you in charge of your health care. Five years ago, the grocery chain Whole Foods Market switched to a different kind of health insurance, a policy that puts patients more in control.
09/20/2007 -- TEEN WORKER SAFETY IN RESTAURANTS - eTOOL
Restaurants and other eating and drinking businesses employ 11.6 million people in the United States. Nearly 30% of these employees are under 20 years of age. Many teens' first work experience is in the restaurant industry. OSHA is providing this eTool to help youth working in the restaurant industry to be safe and healthy on the job. This eTool* describes common hazards and potential safety solutions for teen workers and employers in the restaurant industry.
09/10/2007 -- WHY DOCTORS BOYCOTT COMP
Risk and Insurance - Surgeons in Massachusetts almost uniformly refuse to accept the state fee schedule. They negotiate fees double or higher than the official levels. The common thread to these fee disputes seems to be an economic supply-and-demand problem. But is it really just that?
09/10/2007 -- STATE WORKERS DOMINATE TEXAS LABOR FORCE
Austin American Statesman - How big is the state work force? If state workers were a corporation, it would be the largest in the Texas by far.
09/10/2007 -- EMPLOYERS SEE MORASS IN ID RULE
Financial Week - New rules from the Department of Homeland Security giving employers more responsibility for identifying undocumented workers were put on hold at the end of August by a federal judge. But if the rules survive the court challenge, company executives fear a trifecta of problems: increased operational burden, worker shortages in some industries and exposure to discrimination lawsuits.
09/10/2007 -- WORKFORCE USE OF COCAINE PLUNGES
Courier Post - New data from workplace drug tests conducted by Quest Diagnostics indicate an unprecedented reduction in cocaine use among the U.S. work force, according to the federal Office of National Drug Control Policy. The Quest report found a 16 percent decline in the number of drug test positives for cocaine among the combined U.S. work force during the first six months of 2007, compared to 2006.
09/10/2007 -- TEXAS COMPANIES SETTLE SAFETY AND HEALTH VIOLATIONS
Phillips Petroleum Company has agreed to pay over $2 million in penalties for safety and health violations at its complex in Pasadena, Texas, as part of a settlement agreement announced today by U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. Additionally, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, which now owns and operates the facility, will hire dedicated safety and health consultants to ensure compliance with OSHA’s process safety management standards.
09/10/2007 -- U.S. IS MOST PRODUCTIVE IN PART BECAUSE WE WORK MORE
USA Today - American workers stay longer in the office, at the factory or on the farm than their counterparts in Europe and most other rich nations, and they produce more per person over the year. They also get more done per hour than everyone but the Norwegians, according to a U.N. report released Monday, which said the United States "leads the world in labor productivity." The average U.S. worker produces $63,885 of wealth per year, more than their counterparts in all other countries, the International Labor Organization said in its report. Ireland comes in second at $55,986, followed by Luxembourg at $55,641, Belgium at $55,235 and France at $54,609.
09/03/2007 -- SMALL FIRMS ARE FOCUS OF EFFORT TO TRIM RANKS OF UNINSURED
Houston Chronicle - The state Legislature won't reconvene until 2009, but part of the insurance lobby already is jockeying for a change it says will help reduce the number of Texas workers who don't have health insurance. According to the Texas Association of Health Underwriters, a two-sentence tweak to state law would let small companies — defined as firms with fewer than 50 — pay the full premium for their workers' health insurance rather than share the cost with employees.
09/03/2007 -- 5TH CIRCUIT CERTIFIES MAJOR INSURANCE QUESTIONS TO TEXAS HIGH COURT
Law.com - Insurance disputes have occupied much of the Texas Supreme Court's time of late, and