Employee or Independent Contractor…and Why You Need to Know

Earlier this year, a court ruled that Federal Express drivers should have been classified as employees, when the company had classified them as independent contractors. And the U.S. Department of Labor announced that a five-year investigation in Utah and Arizona yielded $700,000 in back wages, damages, penalties and other guarantees for more than 1,000 construction industry workers.

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Title VII Nondiscrimination Protections Apply to LGBTQ Individuals

The EEOC has concluded “sexual orientation is inherently a ‘sex-based consideration’ and an allegation of discrimination based on sexual orientation is necessarily an allegation of sex discrimination under Title VII.” Translation: Title VII nondiscrimination protections apply to people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer. Continue reading “Title VII Nondiscrimination Protections Apply to LGBTQ Individuals”

The Insurance Formerly Known As Boiler and Machinery

If you’ve been in business a while, you might have heard the phrase “boiler and machinery insurance.” However, today’s policies do much more than cover boilers and machinery, hence the name change. Read on to learn more about this valuable coverage. Continue reading “The Insurance Formerly Known As Boiler and Machinery”

How to Locate a Missing Life Insurance Policy

Maybe you’ve been named executor of the estate of your very wealthy but very disorganized uncle. Or maybe your relative’s valuable papers have been destroyed or lost in a fire, flood or move. In either case, you know a life insurance policy exists somewhere but you can’t find it. What can you do?

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Does Your Wellness Plan Need a Checkup?

Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act recognized the importance of wellness programs allowing employers to offer higher incentives for participation. Just be careful your incentives don’t violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

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Insuring Your Boat

A survey by one insurer found that 29 percent of all boat owners did not have a separate watercraft insurance policy. This could be a mistake.

 

 

Many boat owners mistakenly think their homeowners or personal auto policy will provide coverage; however, the standard homeowners policy limits property damage coverage for boats to $1,500—far less than the value of most recreational boats. Continue reading “Insuring Your Boat”

Will Medical Marijuana Send Your Employment Policies up in Smoke?

Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia now allow the medical use of marijuana. Colorado, Oregon and Washington have also legalized its recreational use and possession. How will this affect your employment policies?

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