Part I - The Potential Impact of the Obama Administration on the Labor and Employment Legal Landscape

There is considerable speculation in the press about President Elect Obama's plans to impact current Labor and Employment Law.

Although his plans may change due to the current economic downturn and political realities, in Parts I and II of IV the following series of articles outline major labor and employment law positions expressed by President Elect Obama during the campaign. Parts III and IV will be in next week's issue of People Matters.

Click here for full article

Part II - Workplace Leave Policies and Regulation

The various bills introduced in the recent Democratic Congress provide a guide for likely legislative activity in the 111th Congress. These bills generally increase the pool of employees eligible for employee leave and the types and duration of leave.

Click here for full article

DOL issues much anticipated FMLA regulations

The first revision to the Family and Medical Leave Act’s (FMLA) regulations since its enactment in 1993 law was published by the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division in the Federal Register on November 17, 2008. In addition to addressing issues related to the definition for “continuing treatment” of a serious health condition, notice requirements and medical certification, among others, the final regulations also implement the new military leave provisions.

Click here for full article

Survey: Workers Risk Injury By Not Wearing PPE

89 percent of safety professionals polled at the 2008 National Safety Council (NSC) Congress have observed workers failing to wear PPE when they should have been. This is the third consecutive year that the survey has revealed a high rate of PPE noncompliance.

Click here for full article

Preparing for Health Care Reform

The Obama Administration may change the health care legislative landscape dramatically when he takes office in January.

Click here for full article

HR in the Line of Fire

On Friday, November 14, a former employee entered the offices of SiPort, opened fire and killed three people. The employee had been fired that day. How a termination meeting is handled is key to how an employee reacts in any situation, but particularly in those situations where the employee is agitated or ashamed. The best terminations are those who allow an employee as much dignity on the way out that the employee had on the way in.

Click here for full article

Stohler named Acting Head of OSHA

Thomas M. Stohler has been named Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA effective November 10, 2008 replacing Ed Foulke who had served as head of the Agency since April 2006.

Click here for full article