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| The Bush administration is
proposing that workplace hazard standards be subject to more public and expert scrutiny before being
adopted. Critics say the proposals could make it harder to limit worker exposure to carcinogens and
other toxic materials. |
| (Source: Miami Herald (free reg. req'd),
2008-08-27) |
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| Recent workplace raids around
the country have increasingly led to prosecuting unauthorized workers for identity theft and use of
someone else's social security number, but those have resulted from federal investigations by ICE
agents into workers at specific companies, not calls from an employer to local police. Still, those
raids have left employers edgy, said Muzaffar Chishti, director of the Migration Policy Institute at
NYU School of Law. |
| (Source: BusinessWeek, 2008-08-31) |
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| Corporate America may have
turned its back on traditional pensions but it appears to be embracing 401(k)s more than ever. While
retirement savings remain largely up to employees, companies are spending more to strengthen their
plans through features that boost savings such as automatic enrollment, advice and more investment
options. Some also are increasing or initiating matching contributions. |
| (Source: Courier Post, 2008-09-01) |
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| This presidential election has
HR executives quaking in their boots. Regardless of which party wins the White House, there will
likely be an onslaught of legislation that could have a profound impact on HR -- from unions to sick
leave to ergonomics. |
| (Source: Human Resource Executive Online,
2008-09-01) |
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| The Justice Department will
roll back a controversial set of rules that penalized companies if they insisted on paying
employees' legal fees or protecting their confidential communications with corporate lawyers. The
long-awaited new guidelines, officials said, will no longer allow federal prosecutors to indict a
company that takes such measures with its employees. |
| (Source: The New York Times (free reg. req'd),
2008-08-27) |
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| A labor advocacy group will
begin airing $5 million worth of ads on national cable and in targeted states to press for
legislation that would allow workers to organize without secret ballot elections. The ads, expected
to air at least four weeks, urge viewers to call the senators to demand their support for the
legislation. |
| (Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune (free reg. req'd), 2008-08-31) |
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| American Multi-Cinema Inc. has
been fined $141,570 by the U.S. Department of Labor for labor law violations involving workers under
age 18. The department's wage and hour division said that AMC permitted teen-aged employees to
operate dangerous equipment and to work beyond the hours and times permitted under the Fair Labor
Standards Act. |
| (Source: The Kansas City Star (free reg. req'd),
2008-08-28) |
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| With the economy in the grip
of a slowdown, American workers are increasingly losing full-time work to part-time employment, and
the trend is particularly pronounced among Hispanics, contributing to the tough economic times
hitting the nation's largest minority group. |
| (Source: The Washington Post (free reg. req'd),
2008-09-01) |
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| As employers have reacted to
more than a year of economic turmoil by cutting staff, slashing budgets and expecting more from
fewer workers, Jan Melnik, a career coach in Durham finds an even larger number of people getting
less pleasure from work. "People just aren't getting a sense of reward and personal accomplishment,"
said Melnik, founder of Absolute Advantage. |
| (Source: The Hartford Courant,
2008-09-01) |
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| Michael
Boldt |
As the 2008 election season enters the home stretch, employers need to learn about, and prepare
for, organized labor's top legislative priority if the unions' endorsed Democratic Party candidates
win. It is called the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). Ice Miller LLP can provide
detailed analysis and training for employers about EFCA, but in this article we offer an
introductory summary of its anticipated provisions. If enacted, it will truly constitute the
most significant change to laws regarding union organizing of employees and collective bargaining in
over 70 years.
Read the entire article on EFCA. |
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Workers' comp
professionals all over Indiana are gathering in Indianapolis on September 8 - 9, 2008, to acquire
critical legal and regulatory updates, as well as information on resolving complex contested claims,
safety and wellness programs, return-to-work programs, preventing fraud, and so much more!
Join the other claims professionals, risk managers, EHS, safety, wellness, insurance, legal,
medical, and workers' comp leaders at the Second Annual Indiana Workers' Comp Conference and gain
control of your workers' comp!
Register and learn more about the Indiana Workers' Comp Conference.
An exclusive offer from Ice Miller - Register to attend the Council's Indiana
Workers' Comp Conference and receive an additional $100 off the current price of the event. Call
1-800-942-4494 and mention priority code 8832SPE to register.
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