Temporary Employees, Full Time Risks

Using contingent workers can relieve your organization of some human resource functions, but it can create liability exposures.

When you hire temporary or leased employees, the agency acts as the employer. The agency is responsible for screening employees, paying employment taxes, providing workers’ compensation and, in some instances, providing employee benefits. Continue reading “Temporary Employees, Full Time Risks”

Horseplay: Who Pays When Someone Gets Hurt?

When horseplay occurs in a work environment, does workers’ compensation apply?

Generally, an injury must 1) occur in the course of employment and 2) arise out of the worker’s employment to be compensable. Merriam-Webster defines horseplay as “rough or loud play: energetic and noisy playful activity.”’ Most job descriptions don’t include play…so should employees receive workers’ compensation for injuries occurring due to recreational activities or horseplay? Continue reading “Horseplay: Who Pays When Someone Gets Hurt?”

Why Stress is an Employer’s Problem

Short-lived or infrequent episodes of stress pose little risk. But when stressful situations go unresolved, the body is kept in a constant state of activation, which increases the rate of wear and tear to biological systems. Ultimately, fatigue or damage results, and the ability of the body to repair and defend itself can become seriously compromised. As a result, the risk of injury or disease escalates.—NIOSH

Continue reading “Why Stress is an Employer’s Problem”

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.

Continue reading “Employee or Independent Contractor…and Why You Need to Know”

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?

Continue reading “Will Medical Marijuana Send Your Employment Policies up in Smoke?”

Intern-al Affairs

With the jobless rate for people ages 20 to 24 still higher than 10 percent, many college students might be willing to trade their time for an unpaid learning experience. But there is a legal difference between an employee and an intern. Knowing the difference can help you avoid breaking the law. Continue reading “Intern-al Affairs”

The Truth about Alcohol Abuse and Workplace Injuries

When researching the effects of alcohol on workplace injuries, you’ll likely stumble across a statistic attributing 38 to 50 percent of all workplace injuries to alcohol or drug abuse. If that sounds shockingly high to you, you’re probably right. Continue reading “The Truth about Alcohol Abuse and Workplace Injuries”

Protect Your Earning Power with Disability Income Insurance

What is your most valuable asset? Your home? Its contents? For most working individuals, their ability to earn an income is worth far more than these physical assets. You insure your home; do you also have coverage for your most valuable asset—your ability to earn an income? Continue reading “Protect Your Earning Power with Disability Income Insurance”

Bullying: Another Form of Workplace Violence

A bully in your workplace can affect morale, increasing stress levels for fellow employees—and possibly increasing your workers’ compensation costs. Continue reading “Bullying: Another Form of Workplace Violence”

How To Handle a Claim

We hope it never happens, but when you suffer a loss, you’ll have to file a claim to receive payment from your insurer. Here’s how the process works, and how to handle it to your best advantage. Continue reading “How To Handle a Claim”