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- High unemployment claims point to stagnant U.S. labor market
The U.S. Labor Department said 382,000 workers made their first claims for unemployment benefits last week, just 3,000 less than the previous week's figure, suggesting that job creation in the U.S. is weak. The less volatile rolling four-month average rose from last month's 368,000, to 378,000. Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model)
(9/20)      
- How to avoid making the wrong hires
To avoid hiring people who are wrong for a job, include details about your company's culture in the job description, Margaret Heffernan writes. Also, make sure you have discussions about each candidate's weaknesses and pay close attention to salary negotiations. "How people manage money will tell you a great deal about how they'll handle partners and customers. If you don't like what you see, pull the plug," she writes. Inc. online/Serial CEO blog (free registration)
(9/17)
- Labor Department offers tool for financial plan providers' relief requests
The U.S. Labor Department has an online tool aimed at financial plan providers who need relief from fee disclosures. The online filing system "will better assist plan sponsors who file electronically by ensuring that all required information is submitted, and providing immediate confirmation that notices have been received," the department's Employee Benefits Security Administration says. AdvisorOne
(9/18)
| Regulatory & Legal Update |
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- Online screening prompts legal concerns
Increasing use of online pre-employment screening has prompted more legal complaints of bias by applicants, legal experts say. Companies can be held liable even if their tests unexpectedly rule out protected groups, they add. "The EEOC is very aware of those products, and they're looking for the right opportunity to go after employers" who use them, said Matthew Camardella, an employment lawyer. The Wall Street Journal
(9/19)
- Former compliance director explains common benefits mistakes
The most common compliance mistakes involving employee benefits are not having a health and welfare plan document, using insurance-carrier-provided documents for summary plan descriptions and having an invalid cafeteria plan, writes Ed Bray, a former compliance director at a health and welfare benefits consultancy. With increased government audits and oversight, "it’s more important than ever to make sure you have your legal ducks in a row," he writes. Employee Benefit News/Employee Benefit Views blog
(9/17)
- Are you killing your workers' best ideas?
Good leadership is about resisting the notion that you know best simply because you've got the biggest office or paycheck, writes Jane Perdue. It's better to keep an open mind and judge other people's suggestions on their merits. "A leader's role to synthesize ideas, not strangle them," Perdue writes. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Leadership
(9/20)
- Warp drives are going places, says NASA scientist
Warp drives like the ones used on "Star Trek" might not be the stuff of science fiction for too much longer, says NASA scientist Harold White. A relatively small bundle of exotic matter could be used to distort space-time around a vehicle, allowing travelers to achieve effective speeds equivalent to around 10 times the speed of light without technically breaking the cosmic speed limit. The Week
(9/19)
 | Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward."
--Victor Kiam,
American businessman
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Recent SmartBrief on Workforce Issues:
- Thursday, September 20, 2012
- Wednesday, September 19, 2012
- Tuesday, September 18, 2012
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- Friday, September 14, 2012
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