Employment / Labor Law News Roundup: April 2015

Monday, April 20, 2015

Ravi, Wahab, Ragesh win Rajya Sabha poll from Kerala

Senior Congress leader Vayalar Ravi, IUML nominee P.V. Abdul Wahab and CPI-M youth leader K.K. Ragesh won the Rajya Sabha elections from Kerala amid speculation of cross voting in the ruling Congress-led UDF. Ravi secured 37 votes, Wahab 36 and Ragesh got 37. The Left opposition had fielded a dummy candidate in K. Rajan, a senior CPI leader, to capitalise on any possible cross voting.

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Uber must face lawsuit claiming it snubs blind people

Uber Technologies Inc must defend against a lawsuit accusing the popular ride-sharing service of discriminating against blind people by refusing to transport guide dogs, a federal judge ruled. In a decision late Friday night, U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins in San Jose, California, said the plaintiffs could pursue a claim that Uber was a "travel service" subject to potential liability under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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Counting the US Intelligence Community Leakers

It's getting hard to keep track of the US intelligence community leakers without a scorecard. So here's my attempt: Harvard Law School professor Yochai Benkler has written an excellent law review article on the need for a whistleblower defense .

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Morgan Profits Soar While Advisor Ranks Get Thinner

How Wells Fargo Serves the Ultra-Rich Ultrahigh-net-worth investors can have complex needs. That's why Abbot Downing, Wells Fargo's group serving investors with $50 million or more, has family historians and psychologists on staff.

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State Added 4,000 Jobs In March, Labor Department Reports

HARTFORD - Connecticut employers added 4,000 jobs in March, a strong rebound from February, when the state's workforce shrank by thousands, the state Department of Labor said Monday.

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Uber facing U.S. lawsuit claiming it discriminates against blind people

Dick Spotswood: Leadership needed to end Sausalito ferry dock debate

Whether by car, bus or ferry Sausalito is Marin's front door. The town's Chamber of Commerce's old hokey slogan, “That's why they built the bridge,” has a point for those who see tourism as the town's financial base.

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American Eagle closing distribution center near Pittsburgh

American Eagle Outfitters says it will close a distribution center where 200 people work north of Pittsburgh at the end of July. The company announced two years ago that it planned to close the facility at the Thorn Hill Industrial Park in Warrendale.

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Lawsuit: Long delay in getting VA medical records could be affecting crucial benefits

Seven disabled veterans have filed a lawsuit against the Department of Veterans, claiming they have been waiting for their medical records for 10 months to more than two years, potentially delaying crucial benefits. The suit was filed Monday by the National Veterans Legal Services Program on behalf of the veterans, who come from across the country.

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Unwittingly Asking Illegal Interview Questions

Job seekers aren't the only ones who may say something inappropriate or botch a question during a job interview. A recent survey by CareerBuilder found that approximately 20 percent of hiring managers reported that they have asked an interview question only to find out later that asking the question possibly violated the law.

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EEOC Issues Balanced Interpretation of Legality of Employer Wellness Plans

What does this all mean for employers? Let's take a look, via the helpful Q&A the EEOC published. Several months ago, the EEOC announced its intent to issue regulations interpreting whether employer wellness plans are legal or illegal medical exams under the ADA.

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Wellness program incentives? Better than ObamaCare

Federal regulators said last week that employers can continue to use financial penalties and rewards to promote workplace wellness programs. The Associated Press reports that employers are looking for ways to cut expenses associated with things like chronic illnesses, which can be influenced by lifestyle, not just family history.

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Labor Department Proposes Fiduciary Conflict of Interest Rules - Again

On April 14, 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor reissued the long-awaited re-proposal of its regulation expanding the definition of "fiduciary" under the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974, as amended , and prescribing stricter conflict-of-interest rules that will apply to relationships between such fiduciaries and their customers . Along with the proposed regulation, the DOL proposed two related Prohibited Transaction Class Exemptions and amendments to six existing PTCEs that will also apply to relationships between fiduciaries and their retirement plan customers .

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AFOP to Congress: Prohibit Child Labor on U.S. Tobacco Farms

Thursday, April 16, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and U.S. Representative David Cicilline introduced legislation to protect child workers from the dangers of exposure to tobacco plants, which can include acute nicotine poisoning and other long term health effects. The Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs supports the proposed legislation, and calls on Congress to swiftly pass the bills.

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Hyundai Supplier Disputes Safety Allegations, Blames Union

Lear Corp. on Friday said allegations of plant employees' exposure to the hazardous chemical TDI are false. The company says air in the plant has been tested by multiple independent parties.

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'People's Platform' To Stir Political Pot

If you're not enjoying your democracy as much as you used to, and you are feeling a little powerless and preyed upon, and you're thinking there's no way out of your mess, help is on the way. You'll have to work for it, but you can do it.

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7 Rules You Need to Know in Fiduciary Proposal

Oakland VA whistleblower to appear at House hearing this week

For the longest time, Rustyann Brown felt like no one would listen as she tried to raise the alarm about how the Oakland VA regional benefits office was failing Northern California veterans. She is scheduled to appear on Capitol Hill before a House Committee on Veterans' Affairs hearing that will examine troubling allegations that the Oakland and Philadelphia regional offices have mismanaged benefit claims from vets.

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Harrison's York International Recognized By Business Council Of Westchester

Thirty years after it merged two small local insurance companies, York International of Harrison has become one of the leading insurance providers in the country. York will be one of six individuals and companies to be honored on Tuesday, April 21, at The Business Council of Westchester's Hall of Fame Awards at the Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle.

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Hillary Made More Per Hour Than The Top 10 US CEOs

There's something wrong when CEOs make 300 times more than the American worker" Clinton said during her first campaign swing last week at an Iowa community collegea [But] Clinton's reported premium speaking fee of $300,000 per speech pales by comparison to the $131.2 million [salary] paid to McKesson CEO John Hammergrena [B]uta a fairer comparison is to look at Clinton and the top 10 CEOs by calculating their total compensation divided by the Department of Labor standard of 2,080 work-hours in a yeara On that basis, the CEOs are pikers compared to an hour of Clinton speaking for $300,000. Hammergren, for example, makes only $63,076 for the same hour of labor.

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Mediation service at Cumbrian hospitals to target bullying issues

Figures revealed by the News & Star showed almost one in four hospital workers in Carlisle and Whitehaven claimed to have been the victim of bullies in the 2014 NHS Staff Survey. The survey showed 23 per cent of employees at the hospitals who responded to the survey said they had been harassed, abused or bullied by managers or colleagues.

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2014.04.20 OT: Duuuuuude

Applied ethics is the philosophical examination, from a moral standpoint, of particular issues in private and public life that are matters of moral judgment. It is thus the attempts to use philosophical methods to identify the morally correct course of action in various fields of human life.

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Pa. unemployment rises, as jobs decline, job seekers increase

Pennsylvania's unemployment rate increased by one-tenth of a percentage point for the third straight month to 5.3 percent in March. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry said unemployment rose in March for the third straight month as the number of jobs declined while job seekers increased.

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Warrior transition units consolidate from 25 to 15

Adaptive sports, such as the Ride 2 Recovery, challenge wounded warriors like Staff Sgt. Patrick Halgren and Staff Sgt.

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Work out even when you are at work

Everyone knows it's hard to find time to get a full workout in when you're busy at work. However, there are several ways you can still burn calories without interfering with your work schedule.

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Lawsuit alleges PGV owner Ormat Industries defrauded federal government

The owner of Puna Geothermal Venture has two weeks remaining to file an answer to a complaint alleging it defrauded the federal government of $13.8 million in stimulus funds to cover an expansion at the plant. Ormat Industries, the parent company of Hawaii Island's only geothermal power plant, "engaged in a scheme to obtain federal grant money under for geothermal energy projects which did not qualify for payment, and have misused and abused the federal funds they have received in order to falsely support geothermal energy projects that the government never intended, or would allow," according to an amended complaint filed in May 2014.

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Pushpinder S. Puri: Sikhs understand dilemma facing Amish quarry workers

The federal government determined that Amish workers at a Pennsylvania quarry had to wear hard hats instead of the felt hats required by their religion. Another federal agency had allowed a religious exemnption for Amish as well as Sikhs from wearing hard hats.

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Election manifesto 2015

This manifesto sets out the National Health Action Party's policy pledges for the upcoming general election. It makes commitments to greater funding for the NHS; maintaining the principle of freely available care at the point of need; support for whistleblowers; and a focus on prevention.

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Osceola sheriff open for business despite ongoing expansion project

Osceola County broke ground recently on the $300,000 expansion and renovation project for the Osceola County Sheriff's Department, something Osceola County Undersheriff Justin Halladay said was long overdue. And while the project will be costly, Halladay said the community will benefit without having to pick up the tab.

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House to Take Up Cybersecurity Bills in Condensed Week

With a scheduled work week that even a college senior could endorse, House lawmakers return to the Capitol Tuesday for just three days to deal with cybersecurity bills and to put the finishing touches on a budget and trade legislation. The House will deal with two cybersecurity bills this week: the Protecting Cyber Networks Act and the National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act of 2015.

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How a $15 Minimum Wage Helps All Workers

Giant corporations and the wealthy are naturally united in their hatred of the $15 minimum wage. Surprising, however, is the strong opposition sometimes encountered by workers who make barely above $15 an hour.

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Adam Forman: The MTA needs to get on the age train

The city's public-transit network and its ridership share an important trait: Both are getting older. Which is why, as the MTA modernizes its signal system, upgrades dilapidated stations and replaces subway cars and buses, it must also make dramatic investments in improving accessibility for aging New Yorkers.

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What employers need to know about medical marijuana

The times - and the laws on marijuana use - are changing, leaving many employers, especially those with employees in multiple states, confused about the appropriate actions to take in circumstances where marijuana is involved. The results of a new Pew Research Center survey found that for the first time in more than four decades, a majority of Americans favor legalizing marijuana.

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GoLocalProv | Business | Smart Benefits: EEOC Notice Clarifies ADA-Compliant Wellness Programs

Last week, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission published a proposed rule clarifying how the Americans with Disabilities Act applies to employer wellness programs that are part of group health plans. The notice follows recent challenges by the EEOC that certain programs violated the ADA because their rewards or penalties essentially made the programs mandatory since employees couldn't afford not to participate.

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Jobs for disabled clients me...

Milton Ramos says the promise of going to work each day is the main reason he gets out of bed. Tribune Chronicle / Virginia Shank Don Palm, right, a machine operator at Starr Manufacuring in Vienna, shows Louis Starcher, 32, of Warren, left, how to burn parts for a fabricating job, as Starcher's job coach, Tammy Danes, looks on.

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Sunday, April 19, 2015

Fired African-American police officer seeks $5M in damages

A small town in the shadow of a volcano in Washington state is simmering with racial tensions over a fired African-American's police officer's claims of discrimination. Gerry Pickens, 28, alleges he suffered racist jokes, different treatment from the entirely-white rest of the force and an undeserved dismissal at the end of his first-year probationary period with the Orting Police Department last year, The Washington Post reported .

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Whose Financial Advice Can You Trust?

Asked to define fiduciary, many Americans might take a pass, especially as it applies to investment advice. News that the Department of Labor might extend a fiduciary standard to everyone who advises investors on retirement accounts sent interested parties on Wall Street and in Washington into a tizzy of overblown rhetoric and accusations.

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County making ground in some areas, but losing ground in others

Before the start of the Great Recession in 2007, a total of 56,000 jobs employed residents across Chautauqua County. Today, the county has lost almost 5,000 of those jobs, according to John Slenker, labor analyst with the New York State Department of Labor.

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Problems at VA hospitals continue

True public servants are frowned upon by some in the federal bureaucracy. Anyone daring to rock the boat by going public with evidence of malfeasance risks retaliation.

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ADA Commemoration Turns Confrontational

The presence of the lieutenant governor at an event celebrating the Americans with Disabilities Act wasn't a welcome sight for one man. Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti was among the speakers at the Chicago launch of ADA 25, a nationwide effort to commemorate the law's anniversary.

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Dave Andelman: Minimum wage hike will cost more teen jobs

School will let out soon, and a crisis of teen summer unemployment will be upon us. Our state already has 1 million adults who are under-employed or collect welfare or unemployment.

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Whistles still blowing over VA problems

True public servants are frowned upon by some in the federal bureaucracy. Anyone daring to rock the boat by going public with evidence of malfeasance risks retaliation.

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County Slow To Recover

Before the start of the Great Recession in 2007, a total of 56,000 jobs employed residents across Chautauqua County.

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Big Data's Disparate Impact

Big data claims to be neutral. It isn't.Advocates of algorithmic techniques like data mining argue that they eliminate human biases from the decision-making process.

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Sen. Kennedy RememberedSAIL AWAY

The Democratic Party's most stalwart defender of civil rights, labor rights, health care, immigration, housing and education for nearly five decades in the U.S. Senate has left us. On Tuesday night, cancer claimed the life of Edward M. Kennedy, the 77-year-old senior senator from Massachusetts.

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Top 5 Industries in New York: Which Parts of the Economy Are Strongest?

When people think of industries in New York, they often think of Wall Street, Broadway and the transportation hubs that tie the Eastern Seaboard together. There is more to the state of New York than what can fit on a postcard from the Big Apple.

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The glamorous exceptions to Obama's war on whistleblowers

While the Obama administration relentlessly pursues those who reveal crimes and wrongdoing, senior figures are allowed to leak with impunity. The Obama administration is notoriously hardline on whistleblowers.

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Americans with Disabilities Act 25th Anniversary Celebratory PSA Released

On the ADA's 100 day countdown to the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we are pleased to announce the release of a universally designed 46 sec PSA marking the 25th anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act . This PSA highlights several events leading up to as well as the signing of the ADA by President George H. W. Bush on July 26, 1990.

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Three Rivers Community College to host forum Friday on youth unemployment

The forum “Out of School and Unemployed Youth Ages 16-24” will be held from 9 to 11:30 a.m. in room F-117 at Three Rivers Community College at 574 New London Turnpike in Norwich. A panel of local experts will focus on job training, educational and employment opportunities and social services available to the target age groups.

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Employee Wellness Programs: Finally, Some Guidance

In the years since the Affordable Care Act was implemented, more and more employers are trying to both help their employees get healthier and keep group health plan costs down by implementing wellness programs in the workplace. Problem is, there wasn't much guidance for how anti-discrimination laws such as the Americans With Disabilities Act should play into workplace wellness regimes .

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Report: Hostile workplace at university Alzheimer's center

In a letter to research center staff, a UCLA administrator wrote that an outside investigator concluded some men discriminated against three women, including retaliation for reporting problems with research protocol. The work environment at the center that specializes in the neurological disorder "compromises our research, teaching and patient care," wrote Jonathan Hiatt, vice dean for faculty at the university, the Los Angeles Times reported .

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Report: Hostile workplace at university Alzheimer's center

An investigation found that female faculty at the Alzheimer's disease research center at the University of California, Los Angeles , worked under hostile conditions, according to a newspaper report. In a letter to research center staff, a UCLA administrator wrote that an outside investigator concluded some men discriminated against three women, including retaliation for reporting problems with research protocol.

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Report: Hostile workplace at university Alzheimer's center

An investigation at the University of California, Los Angeles, medical school found that female professors at its Alzheimer's disease research center worked under hostile conditions. The Los Angeles Times reported that a letter from a UCLA administrator to center staff said the work environment compromised patient care and research.

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Report: Hostile workplace at university Alzheimer's center

Tax Fraud Blotter: Breaking Bad

Las Vegas: Preparer Rosherral Beverly has been indicted on 66 counts of preparing and causing the filing of false returns. According to the indictment, from approximately 2006 through 2011 Beverly, who was sole owner and preparer for the tax preparation and bookkeeping business RBTB, did fraudulent returns for her clients for the tax years 2008, 2009 and 2010.

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Unemployment fraud - leader of false claims scheme sentenced

State authorities say 54-year-old Stephen Pirrone, of Paramus, received a seven-year sentence Friday. He also must pay $54,623 in restitution to the state Department of Labor.

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In the Blogs: Lost in the Mail

Tax Girl : 'Top five things that taxpayers are irrationally afraid of and shouldn't be.' Aggressive deductions, audits, lack of cash for the tax bill, IRS letters.

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Nassau Coliseum workers issued layoff notices ahead of planned closure for renovations this summer

A general view of the main concourse at Nassau Coliseum before a game between the New York Islanders and the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014 in Uniondale, New York. Photo Credit: Jim McIsaac A general view of the main concourse at Nassau Coliseum before a game between the New York Islanders and the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014 in Uniondale, New York.

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Zelinsky to SCOTUS: Fix ERISA Preemption

Edward Zelinsky has just posted on SSRN his article Gobeille v. Liberty Mutual: An Opportunity to Correct the Problems of ERISA Preemption .

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ADA 25

Financial incentives OK'd for workplace wellness programs

In a victory for business, federal regulators said Thursday that employers can continue to use financial penalties and rewards to nudge staff to participate in fast-growing workplace wellness programs. Those include limits on the size of financial incentives, confidentiality of employee medical information and prohibitions against firing workers who decline to participate or denying them access to the company health plan.

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Mountain Creek sued

A federal lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court by a former employee at Mountain Creek alleges ownership harassed him over his weight, superiors directed him to hire more attractive workers, leadership passed him up for a promotion that was promised to him while he was directed not to pay certain vendors on time. Richard Helmrich, who worked as the company's food and beverage manager and filed the lawsuit, named Mountain Creek co-owner Andrew Mulvihill with routinely demeaning him for his weight in front of other employees and guests at the Mountain Creek Resort and water park.

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Township of Southfield

The Public Accuracy Test is conducted to demonstrate that the computer program used to record and count the votes cast at the Election meets the requirements of the law.

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No limits: Artwork by residents with disabilities on display

Artists Without Limits Exhibit Mary De Angelo, chair of the 2015 Artists Without Limits Art Exhibit talks about the show. Artwork made by Anne Arundel County residents with disabilities will be on display at the Arundel Center Thursday through June 30 as part of the Artists Without Limits Exhibit, an annual show put on by the Anne Arundel County Commission on Disabilities and the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County.

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Saturday, April 18, 2015

Legal and Public Notices 4/20/15 - Notice of Meetings, Public Hearings

The Murfreesboro Development Review Committee will meet Monday, 27, 2015 at 12:00 pm in the Administration Conference Room on the 1st Floor of City Hall, 111 West Vine Street, Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37130. The City of Murfreesboro Tennis Committee meeting of April 9, 2015, will reconvene on Thursday, April 30, 2015, at 12:00 noon in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 111 West Vine Street, Murfreesboro, The Rutherford County Ethics Committee will meet on Thursday, April 23 at 4:00 p.m. local time in Room 205 of the Historic Rutherford County Courthouse located in Murfreesboro, TN.

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Labor Department releases new fiduciary regulations

The creep of the Obama administration into financial waters - about which it has shown little to no acumen - continued last week as the Labor Department released new regulations requiring brokers to become fiduciaries. Leaving aside the fact that the Labor Department and not the Securities and Exchange Commission is issuing the rules, the White House is piling on to fix a nonexistent problem.

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Fare talk

There's been talk recently about the future of Sacramento Regional Transit, especially efforts to clean up the system's image and make RT more appealing to more affluent "choice" riders . A couple of things seem to be missing from the conversation.

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Beiser Bills Support Vets

An Alton Democrat is stepping up his support for veterans in Springfield. State Representative Dan Beiser sponsored two bills that were passed through the House of Representatives last week.

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Former SIUE Employee Pleads Guilty

A former employee at SIUE is facing up to ten years in prison after he allegedly lied to federal agents. 38-year old Kwa Mister of Fairview Heights pled guilty to an indictment that charged him with making a false statement to the United States Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General and to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor Racketeering, and Fraud Investigators last week according to United States Attorney Stephen Wigginton.

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Oakland VA whistleblower to appear at House hearing

OSHA fines Duke Energy $90,000 in employee's death

Federal officials have fined Duke Energy Florida Inc. $90,000 in the death of an employee electrocuted at a North Florida substation. The Ocala Star-Banner reported that the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found the company responsible for one willful and four serious safety violations in the Oct. 15 death of Christopher Lee Dasher, 35. The company has 15 business days to pay the fine, contest the findings or request a conference with OSHA officials.

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Help wanted: Most U.S. job openings are for low-skill, low-pay workers

In a post-recession world where many once-familiar occupations continue to automate, move offshore or disappear outright, one of the most basic questions remains: Who's hiring? It turns out the vast preponderance of job openings these days consists of low-skill, hourly wage work with high turnover. The current slate of "help wanted" ads overwhelmingly involves cashiers, waitresses and waiters, personal care aides, janitors, those who stock store shelves, and the likes of Hardee's and Taco Bell.

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Winner of TheBlaze TV's 'Pursuit of the Truth'...

And while that kind of aural backdrop isn't typically welcomed while an audience is watching a movie, the din that Bell was enduring could be forgiven. "It's been an amazing experience," Bell told TheBlaze over the phone.

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After Fan Pressure, Netflix Makes 'Daredevil' Accessible To The Blind

Netflix's original series Daredevil, which stars a blind superhero, was originally hard for blind audience members to understand. The series was released without audio description that would make it accessible to the visually-impaired.

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the usual suspect ....

After ASIC's exposure as a "weak and hesitant regulator" in the Senate Inquiry last year, it has ramped up its activity level and is now desperate to look like it is doing its job. But this latest revelation on unearned fees did not come about due to institutional honesty and self-disclosure, or due to ASIC's "after the horse has bolted let's try and save our skins" review of the six major institutions.

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State official: Collapsed water park roof at Ottertail resort was never inspected

Forensic engineers are still determining the cause of a water park roof collapse at the Thumper Pond Resort in Ottertail, Minn. No one was injured.

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How the Department of Labor gets API Documentation Right

One of the long held truisms of API development is that creating quality documentation is vital to the health of your API program. On the DigitalGov site, Bill Brantley highlights the Department of Labor's API documentation and how it fulfills four important functions that all API providers should strive for when crafting their documentation.

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Oakland VA whistleblower to appear at House hearing this week

Rustyann Brown outside the Federal Building in Oakland, Calif., Friday, Mar. 20, 2015. Brown became a Veterans Administration whistle blower after finding a large number of benefit claims that she says were neglected while working in the Oakland office of the VA.

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Oakland VA whistleblower to appear at House hearing this week

Obama Administration Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Rules to...

The departments of Education and Labor today announced that they are seeking comment on five Notices of Proposed Rulemaking , proposing rules that would implement the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act . The act, signed by President Obama on July 22, 2014, is the first major reform to federal job training programs in more than 15 years.

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OSHA fines Duke Energy $90,000 in employee's death

Federal officials have fined Duke Energy Florida Inc. $90,000 in the death of an employee electrocuted at a north Florida substation. The Ocala Star-Banner reports that the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found the company responsible for one willful and four serious safety violations in the Oct. 15 death of Christopher Lee Dasher, 35. The company has 15 business days to pay the fine, contest the findings or request a conference with OSHA officials.

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Business Can Fine Workers Who Opt Out Of 'Wellness'

In what would be a significant and hard-fought victory for U.S. businesses, the Obama administration said on Thursday it will propose new rules for workplace wellness programs that would treat as voluntary even plans that penalize workers thousands of dollars for not participating. That decision, which will be published in the Federal Register on Mondaya This article is practically gibberish.

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OSHA fines Duke Energy $90,000 in employeea s death

Private bus startup Leap hit with complaint under US disabilities law

Chris Pangilinan , a former San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency engineer who uses a wheelchair, has alleged that new private bus startup Leap is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act . As such, Pangilinan recently filed a formal complaint with the Department of Justice.

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OSHA fines Duke Energy $90,000 in employee's death

St. Johns County unemployment rate falls to 4 percent

According to information released by the U.S. Department of Labor, St. Johns County had an unemployment rate of 4 percent - not seasonally adjusted. Only Monroe County at 3.8 percent had a lower rate.

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Workplace discrimination: 5 Oregon stories from the front lines

Beaverton Florists carries wedding cards for same-sex couples along with those for the traditional "Mr. and Mrs." The Oregonian/OregonLive dropped in on four Portland-area bakeries and florists this week to get business owners' thoughts on the national debate over religious freedom laws and same-sex weddings. The story resonated with readers, at one point becoming the "most actively discussed" on OregonLive with more than 500 comments by end of day Friday and nearly 2,000 Facebook shares.

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Schneider Electric Selects Benefitfocus to Create Consumer-Driven Employee Benefits Experience

"Benefitfocus Marketplace will empower our employees through the platform's decision support tools - enabling them to make more informed benefit choices based on their individual health and financial needs," said with a functionally rich set of administrative tools that streamline and automate key processes, such as evidence of insurability updates, dependent verifications and vendor data management." Schneider Electric is a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries.

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MiB: Alan Krueger

This week, our Masters in Business radio podcast features Alan Krueger , former chairman of the U.S. Council of Economic Advisers. Krueger served as Chairman of the President's Council of Economic Advisers, was a Cabinet Member from November 2011 to August 2013.

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Fancy commuter buses yanked disabled access?

Christin Klein uses her smartphone while Anindha Parchy works from his laptop on one of Leap Transit's luxury buses in San Francisco on March 23. Leap's tagline: "San Francisco, we've built a better bus." It's certainly a bluer bus.

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Montana takes another step toward Medicaid expansion

Montana state senators have endorsed a House amendment to a bill expanding Medicaid eligibility to about 70,000 low-income Montanans, putting it one vote away from the governor's signature. Senators gave initial approval by a vote of 29-21 on Friday.

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Szymanski: 'Are you a fiduciary?' - The question all investors should ask financial advisers

President Barack Obama speaks about the economy and the middle class, Wednesday, March 18, 2015, at the City Club of Cleveland. The word "fiduciary" connotes responsibility and - most importantly - trust.

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Hyundai supplier: Alabama woman no whistleblower, safety risks claims false

Kim King, who has worked at Renosol Seating for nearly 10 years in Selma, Ala., turned away by security at Hyundai corporate offices in Montgomery. Hyundai is the exclusive customer of Renosol Seating in Selma.

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San Bruno CA: Planning Commission Meeting Agenda - April 21st 2015

Planning Commission meetings are conducted in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised. You may address any agenda item by approaching the microphone until recognized by the Planning Commission Chair.

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The wage gap myth

This past Tuesday was "Equal Pay for Equal Work Day" in Massachusetts, a periodic exercise in which politicians declare themselves in favor of equal pay for men and women and cite statistics purporting to show that women across the nation earn 77 cents for each dollar earned by men. Women in Massachusetts fare slighter better at 80.5 cents.

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Jobless rate drops to 3.8 percent in Idaho - Sat, 18 Apr 2015 PST

The construction industry added 1,000 new jobs and the financial industry hired 200 people, according to the Idaho Department of Labor. Overall, 5,400 Idaho workers found jobs last month, continuing an expansion in the labor market that has pushed state unemployment rates to seven-year lows.

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Hobet Mining LLC v. Epling

HOBET MINING, LLC, Petitioner, v. Carl R. EPLING, Jr.; Director, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, United States Department of Labor, Respondents.

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Friday, April 17, 2015

Paramus man sentenced in theft of unemployment benefits

A Paramus man was sentenced Friday to seven years in prison for his role in a scheme to steal more than $180,000 in unemployment benefits from the state. Stephen Pirrone, 54, of Paramus, formerly of Old Tappan and Norwood, was sentenced after pleading guilty in February to second-degree charges of conspiracy and theft by deception.

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Logan County Board of DD opposed to House Bill 188

The Logan County Board of Developmental Disabilities passed a resolution in opposition of the House of Representative Bill 188 at their meeting on Thursday, April 16, 2015. The resolution follows: WHEREAS the Logan County Board of Developmental Disabilities continues to support person centered planning, individual choice, integration and increased community employment.

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Pennsylvania Jobless Rate Rose Slightly In March

Pennsylvania's unemployment rate rose in March for the third straight month, as the number of jobs declined and the ranks of job-seekers increased. The state Department of Labor and Industry said Friday the 5.3 percent rate was up from 5.2 percent in February, when payrolls hit a record high that offset the last of the job losses from the recession.

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The Intercept's new blog gets its stories from unofficial sources

We'll look for mid-level bureaucrats trying to tell the truth, and put out a welcome mat for unhappy system administrators and bank whistleblowers. We'll read mind-numbing government procurement contracts and grudgingly-released financial disclosure forms.

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Brannon Center to be razed in May

The Brannon Center, a 50-year-old building that has served as the city's prime place to hold large meetings and social functions, is scheduled to be torn down beginning next month. Demolition of the Riverside Drive building, which was originally used as a city library, is targeted for May 14 and would take three weeks to complete.

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Teens Using E-Cigarettes Triple in One Year

A new study revealed some alarming and sharply rising numbers in the number of teens using electronic cigarettes. The Centers for Disease Control just released a new study about the trend when it comes to teens and their e-cig use, and just how dangerous the growing problem could be.

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Will the gender pay gap ever disappear? Updated at

Women have always been paid less than men for the same work and, despite all progress in lessening gender inequalities, that situation continues, with women averaging 78 cents on the dollar against men, nationwide. It's gradually inching up.

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Hyundai supplier disputes safety allegations, blames union

Construction wraps up at Jesse Hall in time for May commencement ceremonies

Construction workers enter the south side of Jesse Hall on Friday morning. Jesse Hall has been closed since spring 2014 for infrastructure upgrades.

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Isle of Wight County to pick up tab for schools' Davis-Bacon back pay

Board votes 4-1 to take on third major payout, and any subsequent bills, in Davis-Bacon fallout from errant sc Isle of Wight County will establish a fund dedicated to covering the continuing payments to compensate workers who did not receive federally mandated minimum wages while building Georgie D. Tyler Middle School in Windsor. Isle of Wight Schools to pay $333,000, with more to come, to workers shorted in Tyler Middle School project The Isle of Wight School Board has agreed to pay more than $333,000 to construction workers who were shortchanged because of a flaw in the contract for the Georgie D. Tyler Middle School project.

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EEOC Issues Proposed Rule on Application of the ADA to Employer Wellness Programs

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission today published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking describing how Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act applies to employer wellness programs that are part of group health plans. The NPRM is available in the Public Inspection portion of the Federal Register, and will be officially published on Monday, April 20, 2015.

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SEC Launches Investigation into Employment Contracts that Prevent Whistleblowing

A February 25 article in the Wall Street Journal reports that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission will begin investigating the kinds of agreements that certain companies make with their employees. The article states that the agency has already sent out several requests to different companies for years' worth of employment contracts, nondisclosure agreements and other similar types of documents to investigate the kinds of confidentiality clauses they include.

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Groups pledge to increase disability access at launch of ADA 25 Chicago

City elected officials and business leaders gathered Friday to mark the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act by launching a broad new initiative to promote physical access and employment opportunities for those with disabilities. The Chicago Community Trust is lead sponsor of ADA 25 Chicago, and has given a grant of $1 million to get the project going.

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Medicaid expansion 1 vote away from Gov.'s signature

Senators have endorsed a House amendment to a bill expanding Medicaid eligibility to about 70,000 low-income Montanans, putting it one vote away from the governor's signature. Senators gave initial approval by a vote of 29-21 on Friday.

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Financial incentives OK'd for workplace wellness programs

March Unemployment Hits 7 Year Low

Unemployment numbers for the state of Idaho during the month of March have been released. The percentages keep getting lower and for the Gem State economy, the news gets better.

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School district makes a final pitch before bond vote

About 40 people attended the last of three informational meetings before Tuesday's vote on a $20 million renovation and addition plan for the Divide County elementary and high school buildings. Two items are on the ballot -- with the first requiring 60 percent of votes cast to allow the school to bond for up to $2 million.

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Kentucky Reforms Drug Court Rules To Let Heroin Addicts Take Prescribed Meds

Kentucky will no longer require opioid addicts to stop taking prescribed treatment medications as a condition of participating in the state's drug court program, according to a motion filed in federal court . The state court system had previously mandated that addicts taper off such medications within six months in order to remain in drug court -- a policy that contradicted established medical research and best practices.

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Missouri bill protecting gays from discrimination is gaining momentum

While not disputing that argument, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry opposed the bill unless another measure passes first. State chamber lobbyist Jay Atkins said the state should narrow the workplace discrimination law to require workers to ... (Read full article)

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Painting company fined for excess lead levels in employees

Allied Painting Inc., a painting contractor from Cherry Hill, N.J., faces $41,580 in fines after OSHA found excess levels of lead on surfaces where employees work, change their contaminated clothing and eat while working at the Braga Bridge, the U.S. Department of Labor has announced.   The Occupational Safety Health Administration inspection, which began Oct. 30, 2014, was conducted in response to a referral from the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standard's Lead Program.

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Medicaid Expansion 1 Vote Away From Gov.'s Signature

Local unemployment rates drop, remain among lowest in state

March was a good month for the local economy as unemployment rates improved throughout Northwest Florida.

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Truck Drivers and Registered Nurses Continue to be the Most Sought After Employees According to HWOL

Data collected and analyzed by the Alabama Department of Labor's Labor Market Information Division shows that the most online wanted ads were for truck drivers, registered nurses, and retail supervisors, with more than 7,200 ads placed for those occupations in March. The Help Wanted Online data is compiled from all online job postings in the state, including those posted on the state's free online jobs database, http://ift.tt/1gKElGI , and other sources, such as traditional job boards, corporate boards, and social media sites.

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Ex-Kent BMX bike racer pleads guilty to defrauding state in disability scam

A Port Orchard man, who lived in Kent when he was caught on video racing BMX bikes while claiming he was too injured to work, pleaded guilty on Thursday to stealing more than $14,000 in disability benefits. Tony T. Perry Sr., 52, pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree theft, a gross misdemeanor, in Thurston County Superior Court, according to a state Department of Labor & Industries media release.

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VA still a mess-not a success

Less than a month ago President Obama made a special trip back to Arizona to see the vets he snubbed on his prior visit. The President raves about the VA as a success story for him- that is a lie! Across the nation vets continue on waiting lists.

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Gender-based pay disparities persist in Maryland

Women have made massive gains in the work force, but pay disparities persist nationwide. Maryland however is better than any state beside New York.

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Severed arm leads to Colonie fraud conviction

An employee's severed arm led to a guilty plea from a Colonie business owner who had falsified his insurance filings, the Albany County District Attorney's office said Thursday. David M. Johnson , CEO of Professional Fire Restoration Services , pleaded guilty on Tuesday in Colonie Town Court to a misdemeanor count of falsifying business records to settle felony charges, said Cecilia Walsh , spokeswoman for DA David Soares .

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Thursday, April 16, 2015

Confidential tips to government may not be confidential because of lack of encryption

Got a hot tip about federal waste, fraud or corruption? You should think twice about using the government's own online systems for collecting such complaints. Many of them promise confidentiality but for years have sent sensitive data - including names, addresses and phone numbers of whistleblowers, as well as the details of their allegations - across the internet in a way that could be intercepted by hackers or snoops.

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Anchorage homebuilders not deterred by dim economic outlook

This 1950's-era house in Bootlegger's Cove overlooking Cook Inlet was razed to make way for The Alexis, a boutique condominium that includes six flats and a two-story townhome. Elise Huggins and Gary Prokosch are close to moving in to their new home on West 10th Avenue in Bootlegger Cove.

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En Banc Sixth Circuit Decision Holds that Telecommuting Was Not a...

Last Friday, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals sitting en banc held that telecommuting up to four days a week was not a reasonable accommodation under the ADA for a disabled Ford Motor Co. employee.

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Whistleblowers at risk when using US government websites

More than two dozen U.S. government websites should be urgently upgraded to use encryption, as whistleblowers are potentially at risk, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. At least 29 websites that can be used for reporting abuse and fraud don't use encryption, the ACLU said in a letter sent on Tuesday to the U.S.'s top technology chief, CIO Tony Scott.

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Big Business Gets A Big Win On Controversial Workplace Wellness Plans

JANUARY 18: Dr. Olveen Carrasquillo, chief of general internal medicine University of Miami, conducts a checkup on Juan Gonzalez at the University of MiamiA A's Miller School of Medicine, as the United States House Republicans in Washington, DC were poised to approve a bill repealing the health care law that last year was signed into law overhauling the U.S. health care system on January 18, 2011 in Miami, Florida. Dr. Carrasquillo said that anyone that wants to roll back the gains mad Businesses that want to penalize workers and their families hundreds, even thousands of dollars for not participating in workplace wellness programs may finally get clear legal authority to do so.

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Mike Weaver: Resources can help those in need of an RIA

In a previous column, we talked about stockbrokers as being salespeople who charge commissions and provide investments that are "suitable." Often these suitable investments come at a cost that benefit their bottom line more than yours, a standard that critics say permits high fees that compound over time and eat into investors' returns.

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Senate Democrats, Republicans Have Different Equal Pay Bills

The Paycheck Fairness Act introduced by Senator Barbara Mikulski, D-Maryland, would require the Department of Labor to collect and share wage information based on gender and prevent retaliation against women for seeking equal pay. "A law like this will also make employers and managers and supervisors think twice about how they set salaries how they adjust wages and maybe some of the correction will be self-correction," said Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin.

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Federal judge issues restraining order in whistleblower case

A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order against a company accused of retaliating against workers at an automotive parts plant in Selma who are part of a whistleblower investigation. An order filed by the U.S. Department of Labor Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama blocks the Lear Corporation and Renosol Seating from terminating, suspending, suing, threatening or retaliating against current or former employees.

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Charlottesville Area Transit to demonstrate advanced fare boxes

Charlottesville Area Transit will usher in a new era for the bus system next month when fareboxes that offer more payment choices for passengers are installed in all vehicles. "With the new boxes, we're going to be able to offer three-day, seven-day, three months and annual passes," said Westley Kern, CAT's marketing coordinator.

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Why We Need to Add Sexual Orientation to the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Although, strictly speaking, this isn't a "religious liberty" case: There are no state or local laws where this guy lives that require him to serve gays. Nope.

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SEC Applies Whistleblower Protections to Confidentiality Arrangements

Public companies should review their confidentiality arrangements for any provisions that may result in unintended violations of the Dodd-Frank Act's whistleblower protections. On April 1, 2015, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it had settled its first enforcement action based on language in a company's confidentiality agreements warning employees that they could face discipline and potential termination for discussing internal investigation matters with outside parties without the prior approval of the company's legal department.

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Employers Can Pay Workers for Weight, Exercise, U.S. Says

Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world. U.S. employers can reward workers with as much 30 percent of the cost of their health insurance benefits in return for participation in programs to monitor weight, cholesterol and other "wellness" measures, the Obama administration said Thursday.

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DOJ Investigates Agreements Between Hollywood, Theaters

The Department of Justice is taking aim at the movie industry and its practice of granting exclusive screenings of select films in particular areas. According to The Wall Street Journal , the DOJ's antitrust division has taken a renewed interest in the agreements between studios and theaters known as "clearance."

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Union attempts to organize fast food illustration by Greg Groesch/The Washington Times

Facing what appears to be terminal decline, the Service Employees International Union has taken to a desperate Hail Mary play to keep their bank accounts well-funded. This week SEIU and its "worker center" front groups, led by Berlin Rosen - a political consultancy with ties to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and other left-wing groups - staged various media stunts claiming to be "strikes" against fast food restaurants for higher wages.

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Federal Court Rules That HR Consultant's Report is Not Privileged

On March 27, 2015, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York granted the plaintiffs' motion to compel disclosure of a report prepared by a Human Resources consultant in class action litigation under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state wage and hour laws. In Scott v.

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Legislators reach compromise on prison reform

A panel of legislators would be empowered to investigate and subpoena staff at the Department of Corrections in an effort to provide aggressive oversight and demand reform at the troubled agency, under a compromise prison reform plan being floated by top negotiators. The tentative deal was hatched Thursday between Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, and Rep. Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami, as they huddled together in the House chamber during the morning legislative session.

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EEOC Issues Rules for Employee Wellness Program Incentives

U.S. employers can reward workers with as much 30 percent of the cost of their health insurance benefits in return for participation in programs to monitor weight, cholesterol and other "wellness" measures, the Obama administration said Thursday. Honeywell International Inc., for example, has given employees incentives worth as much as $3,500 to track health measures like body mass index and heart health.

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Reserve CWS Tickets Go On Sale Saturday

Reserved seat tickets for the 2015 NCAA Men's College World Series will be available for sale this Saturday at 10 a.m. Central Time. The sale will be open to the general public at NCAA.com/CWSTickets or by calling 866/208-0048.

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Senate Democrats and Republicans Have Different Bills Aimed at Equal Pay

Women make up nearly half of the U.S. labor force. A growing number are the breadwinners in their families, but still today they are making just 77 cents for every dollar a man makes, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

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Consent Judgment And Injunction Obtained Against Jan Charles Gray And His Custer Businesses

The United States Attorney's Office and the United States Department of Labor recently secured a consent judgment of over $8,000.00 and a permanent injunction in South Dakota District Court, ordering Jan Charles Gray and his businesses in Custer, South Dakota, to comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act and to pay back wages and overtime pay owed to former employees. The Custer businesses include the Custer Motel, the All American Inn, and the American President Resorts.

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Feds OK employee wellness program incentive plans

One Of EEOC's First Transgender Lawsuits Has Settled

The EEOC announced this week that one of the lawsuits - against Lakeland Eye Clinic of Florida - has settled. The Clinic has agreed to make two payments of $75,000 to Brandi Branson, who had been the Clinic's Director of Hearing Services.

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G.S. Precision gets special exception, variance for potential Chesterfield location

CHESTERFIELD, N.H. >> G.S. Precision is done with the Chesterfield Zoning Board of Adjustment and now the manufacturing company moves on to the Planning Board in its quest to develop a 54,000-square-foot facility on Mill Road. Jim Phippard, of Brickstone Land Use Consultants in Keene, has been hired by G.S. Precision and presented the ZBA with relevant information at Chesterfield Town Offices on April 14. The four ZBA members at the table voted unanimously to grant a special exception and a variance to the company, based in Brattleboro, Vt.

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Letter: - Ag-gag' bill

In North Carolina, a dangerous bill is being considered that would penalize whistleblowers who conduct animal abuse investigations on farms. This bill, nicknamed an "ag-gag" bill, gives agricultural corporations a free pass to abuse animals rather than making them take responsibility for better animal care.

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Penny Bridge replacement open house

Posted By: Jenn Hatcher jhatcher@klkntv.com City of Lincoln: The public is invited to an open house Thursday, April 16 on the replacement of the Penny Bridges on Sheridan Boulevard, just west of 33rd Street. The meeting is from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the commons area at Lincoln Southeast High School, 2930 S. 37th St. No formal presentations are planned.

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Financial incentives OK'd for workplace wellness programs

Region adds 6,800 jobs in year

Figures from the state Department of Labor show 5,500 more private-sector jobs in the Orange-Rockland-Westchester metro area, for a 1 percent increase.

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River accessibility prime topic at DEC summit

And when they talk river access, they're talking about more than just how to get more places to put your boat in the water.

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DuPage deputy files second federal suit against sheriff

A longtime DuPage County sheriff's deputy, already part of a federal lawsuit against Sheriff John Zaruba claiming retaliation, has filed a second suit, this one alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Deputy Eric Koty, a 13-year veteran of the department, filed the lawsuit late last month in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

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6th Circuit Provides Road Map for ADA Accommodation Cases

A recent Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals case provides employers with a great example of how to evaluate accommodation requests under the Americans with Disabilities Act . In EEOC v.

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EEOC Consent Decrees are its Most Powerful Enforcement Mechanisms

The vast majority of settlements between an employer and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission take the form of a court-approved consent decree. This document is a public record designed to highlight and account for certain wrongs in a way that sidesteps an admission of guilt in favor of the implementation of remedial measures to prevent further unlawful practices.

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Ninth Circuit Calls Into Question "No Reemployment" Provisions In ...

On April 8, 2015, in Golden v. California Emergency Physicians Medical Group , the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals broadly interpreted California's statutory provisions regarding restrictive covenants in the context of reviewing a common clause included by employers in settlement agreements.

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6th Circuit Provides Road Map for ADA Accommodation Cases

Senate Democrats, Republicans have different bills aimed at equal pay for women

Women make up nearly half of the U.S. labor force, and a growing number are the breadwinners in their families, but still today, they are making just 77 cents for every dollar a man makes - according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The Paycheck Fairness Act introduced by Senator Barbara Mikulski would require the Department of Labor to collect and share wage information based on gender and prevent retaliation against women for seeking equal pay.

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Employers Can Pay Workers for Weight, Exercise, U.S. Says

Honeywell International Inc., for example, has given employees incentives worth as much as $3,500 to track health measures like body mass index and heart health. Many other employers have similar programs, though there has been debate over how far they can go.

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SEC Targets Confidentiality Agreements That Stifle Whistle-Blowing

On April 1, 2015, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced its first enforcement action and settlement against a company for violations of the whistleblower protection provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act regulations. KBR, Inc. required some of its employees to sign a Confidentiality Statement which warned that an employee could be subject to discipline, up to and including termination, if the employee discussed an internal investigation with outside parties without receiving prior authorization from KBR's legal department.

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One Of EEOC's First Transgender Lawsuits Has Settled

Senate Democrats and Republicans Have Different Bills Aimed at Equal Pay For Women

Women make up nearly half of the U.S. labor force and a growing number are the breadwinners in their families-but still today they are making just 77-cents for every dollar a man makes-that's according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Now lawmakers are once again trying to close that gap The Paycheck Fairness Act introduced by Senator Barbara Mikulski would require the Department of Labor to collect and share wage information based on gender and prevent retaliation against women for seeking equal pay.

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Fargo Public School's Response to Letter from Thomas More Society Regarding ProLife Groups

We have been following a story regarding some student's rights in starting a Pro-Life Club with the Fargo Public School District. The response from the school district claims the demand letter from the Thomas More society was factually inaccurate on several points.

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KY courts want addiction discrimination suita

KY courts want addiction discrimination suit dropped KY courts want a federal suit accusing them of discriminating against addicts to be tossed. Check out this story on cincinnati.com: http://cin.ci/1FYN1mG Suboxone is used to help curb cravings in opiate or prescription painkiller addicts and stabilize them so they can function without withdrawal symptoms.

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Top Officers Clash At Last Meeting Of Hartford Fire Task Force

Hartford Fire Chief Carlos Huertas and Deputy Chief of Training Daniel Nolan sparred over their respective roles and expectations at Thursday's final meeting of a task force appointed to review the fire department's operations. Mayor Pedro Segarra formed the task force in December after incidents involving firefighters, both on duty and off, abusing alcohol or getting arrested.

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Portland's Andrea Paluso honored as White House 'Champion of Change'

Portland activist Andrea Paluso was honored Thursday by the White House for her work to improve the lives of working families in Oregon. President Barack Obama recognized Paluso as one of several "Champions of Change" who support working families and have helped to bring about change within their communities by advocating for paid sick leave, equal pay and other policies to end workplace discrimination, the White House said in a news release.

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Groups Challenge President Obama on Equal Pay for Women

Speaking on behalf of the Independent Women's Forum, Shelby-native Hadley Heath Manning says the concept of equal pay in the workplace is a misnomer. "That is just a comparison of averages and the disparity can be explained by a lot of other factors besides workplace discrimination," she said.

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IWF -7 people who know the gender "pay gap" is a misleading statistic that reflects choice, not discrimination

"The higher concentrations of men in riskier occupations with greater occurrences of workplace injuries and fatalities suggest that more men than women are willing to expose themselves to work-related injury or death in exchange for higher wages," Perry wrote. "In contrast, women more than men prefer lower risk, family-friendly occupations with greater workplace safety, and are frequently willing to accept lower wages for the reduced probability of work-related injury or death."

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Senate Democrats and Republicans Have Different Bills Aimed at Equal Pay For Women

WASHINGTON, D.C.:--Women make up nearly half of the U.S. labor force and a growing number are the breadwinners in their families-but still today they are making just 77-cents for every dollar a man makes-that's according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Now lawmakers are once again trying to close that gap.

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Financial incentives OKa d for workplace wellness programs

Palo Alto set to move ahead with minimum-wage hike

Following in the footsteps of its neighbors in Mountain View and Sunnyvale, Palo Alto is preparing to adopt a new law raising the local minimum wage to $10.30 per hour. The City Council's Policy and Services Committee is scheduled to consider an ordinance on April 28 that would institute a base minimum wage of $10.30, with an annual adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index, as established by the U.S. Department of Labor.

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Fringe Benefit Group Expands Service Contract Act (SCA) Team;...

Companies competing for SCA jobs face endless challenges around compliance, healthcare reform, fringe benefits and taxes. Fringe Benefit Group has expanded its Service Contract Act team with the addition of Stephanie Craghead and Marc Johnson, who have a deep understanding of benefits administration, the federal bid process, and how contractors can stay compliant when competing for government jobs.

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LPL Financial Responds to DOL's Proposed Definition of Fiduciary

SAN DIEGO, April 16, 2015 -- LPL Financial LLC, the nation's largest independent broker-dealer*, a custodian for registered investment advisors , and a wholly owned subsidiary of LPL Financial Holdings Inc. , today issued the following statement in response to the Department of Labor's proposed definition of fiduciary: LPL supports the intentions behind the DOL's proposed definition of the term, "fiduciary," and its application to investment advice.

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Mohawk announces promotion and new hire

John P. Macy was promoted to senior vice president and chief financial officer, responsible for directing financial function including management of treasury activities, banking relations, cash management, insurance coverage, ERISA/pension, credit agreements and internal and external financial reporting. Macy previously served as vice president, corporate treasurer.

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Mentally Ill in a High-Stakes Job

With the crash of Germanwings Flight 9525, caused by a rogue pilot with a history of depression, people are calling for better mental health screenings for pilots. But it's not just in aviation where mental-health treatment is a concern.

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Sherman boy with undiagnosable condition to undergo brain surgery

A Sherman teen with an undiagnosable condition that's left him unable to walk will undergo brain surgery in Kansas City, Mo. on Friday.

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With Tax Season Finally Over - IRA Financial Group Expecting Surge In...

The Solo 401k Plan is a perfect tool to help entrepreneurs and small business owners reduce their 2015 tax liability as well as save for their retirement. The Solo 401k Plan is a perfect tool to help entrepreneurs and small business owners reduce their 2015 tax liability as well as save for their retirement.

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Job Interview Questions May Be Discriminatory Indicates Chicago Employment Attorney Timothy Coffey

While many seeking jobs today are aware of the possibility of discrimination in the workplace, few expect that job interviews may also be fraught with discriminatory questions. "It violates your civil rights to be judged on anything else other than your ability to do the job," says Chicago employment attorney, Timothy Coffey.

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Disabled sex offender allowed to sue Indiana sheriff

A federal lawsuit brought against the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office last year by a disabled inmate will proceed toward trial, thanks to a judge's green light earlier this month. Disabled sex offender allowed to sue Indiana sheriff A federal lawsuit brought against the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office last year by a disabled inmate will proceed toward trial, thanks to a judge's green light earlier this month.

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Transmissions: A Restroom, A Symbol

In November 2011, I found myself making a whirlwind trip to Washington, D.C. to be part of a meeting in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. The Eisenhower Executive Office Building, for the uninitiated, is a sizable structure on the west side of the White House grounds.

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Executive Order Protecting LGBT In Workplace Now In Effect

President Obama's Executive Order, signed July 21, 2014, on LGBT Workplace Discrimination went into effect April 8. The executive order prohibits federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. LGBT people employed by federal contractors across the country will now receive new legal protections designed to ensure they are judged solely by the quality of their work.

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Mountain Creek sued

A federal lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court by a former employee at Mountain Creek alleges ownership harassed him over his weight, superiors directed him to hire more attractive workers, leadership passed him up for a promotion that was promised yo him while he was directed not to pay certain vendors on time. Richard Helmrich, who worked as the company's food and beverage manager and filed the lawsuit, named Mountain Creek co-owner Andrew Mulvihill with routinely demeaning him for his weight in front of other employees and guests at the Mountain Creek Resort and water park.

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VA employee says he was fired after warning of hospital cost

In this Thursday, April 2, 2015 file photo, and seen through the criss-cross pattern of a cyclone fence, the sign marking construction stands at the site of the Veterans Affairs hospital in Aurora, Colo. A U.S. House of Representatives committee will hold a hearing in Washington D.C. Wednesday, April 15, on the $1-billion cost overrun in construction of the hospital.

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Bias rule prompts call to LR's lawyer

At-large Little Rock Director Joan Adcock has requested an opinion from the city attorney on how a state law banning localities from adding new classes of protection will affect a proposed city ordinance to extend Little Rock's nondiscrimination policy to contractors. The ordinance, if passed at next week's city board meeting, would require businesses that contract with the city or any of its commissions to adopt a nondiscrimination policy that includes sexual orientation and gender identity protections -- two classes not listed in state law.

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Former head of the NHS says politicians on election trail are...

He said: 'I think I made a contribution to improving services. But obviously I regret people suffered.

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Train car troubles

Last Saturday , a group of arts aficionados viewed the private troves of four notable local collectors during "Treasures of a Collection," an annual fundraising event for the Chico Art Center. The main topic of conversation that afternoon wasn't the works on the walls of the collectors' homes, however, according to Jackie McClain, president of CAC's board of directors, but instead involved the unrenewed lease for Empire Coffee, currently housed in a vintage train car owned by the organization.

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Bites

Blue Prairie Group Adds Oregon Affiliate to Network of Retirement Plan...

Blue Prairie Group , a Chicago-based institutional retirement and investment consulting firm, is pleased to announce the addition of Rick Harris to its growing network of retirement consultants. Blue Prairie Group , a Chicago-based institutional retirement and investment consulting firm, is pleased to announce the addition of Rick Harris to its growing network of retirement consultants.

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Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Protest held for minimum wage hike

NYU students joined forces with college students from around New York City at Columbia University to protest for a $15 minimum wage on Wednesday. The Service Employees International Union organized the rally in conjunction with NYU's Student Labor Action Movement.

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USDOL announces $15 million in grants for job-seeking disabled adults and youths

According to a new study, hiring people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is good for business. Yet 85% of those with IDD are unemployed.

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Stressed out paramedics leaving Bolton, whistleblowers claim

A whistleblower says morale for North West Ambulance Service paramedics is so low that six have left jobs in Bolton in the last six months. The frontline Bolton paramedic said a survey for NWAS' Unison members - launched three months ago but still ongoing - found 85 per cent of staff were actively looking to leave or wanted to leave.

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Pay Up: Tamar Braxton Being Sued By Ex-Nanny For Allegedly Being Stingy

Tamar Braxton is in major trouble for some familiar accusations as her former nanny claims she's waiting on her coins for services rendered. The singer/TV host is worth an estimated $10 million, but FunkyDineva.com reports that she may not be sharing the wealth.

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campus_techhub_feature

Tech Hub, which opened this week after delayed construction, features a 'demo area' reserved for demonstrations of new technology and student presentations. The Oculus Rift , a virtual reality headset, is an example of one such technology.

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The VA bureaucracy can't win

True public servants are frowned upon by some in the federal bureaucracy. Anyone daring to rock the boat by going public with evidence of malfeasance risks retaliation.

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City settles five suits

Attorney Bill Merriman, who represented the five employees in the city finance department, said the suits were settled out of court for a total of $90,000. Merriman said the mediation session began at 11 a.m. and the settlement was reached at 6:05 p.m. "These suits will be dismissed in the next day or two," he said Wednesday evening.

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City, landlord not sweating Fletcher's future

After years building up architectural and engineering firm Fletcher Thompson 's recent move downtown, City Hall is responding to the firm's financial troubles and fears about its future with a new message. "Their future is almost irrelevant in some ways," David Kooris , Bridgeport's economic development head, told City Council members Tuesday.

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Media Matters Debunks Latest Nontroversy Over Hillary Clinton's Email

In a piece just published by Media Matters , Alexandrea Boguhn and Matt Gertz are reporting that newly obtained documents undermine the latest round of gossip at the New York Times about Hillary Clinton's email.. As Media Matters notes in its critique, the Times veered away from responsible journalism, and it returned to the sloppy, incomplete reporting featured in stories it printed about Clinton 6 weeks ago.

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Dominion says investigations did not substantiate contractor's claims

Waterford – Millstone Power Station owner Dominion Resources thoroughly investigated and did not substantiate a contractor's claim that he was fired for raising safety concerns about a co-worker abusing narcotics on the job, plant spokesman Ken Holt said Wednesday. Holt was responding to allegations raised Tuesday by Stephen Lavoie of Niantic, a former insulation contractor who addressed Nuclear Regulatory Commission administrators during an annual public meeting about performance of the nuclear power plant.

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Dinh tops cycling event

Nguyen Quoc Dinh stole the yellow jersey at the HCM City Television Cycling Tournament after the fifth stage from Vinh City to Dong Hoi City yesterday. The rider from Ben Tre finished in the leading group and jumped to top of the overall rankings with a time of 13hr 13.52min.

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Driving simulator helps to keep Volusia County seniors on the road

ORANGE CITY Next time you hit the highway ponder this statistic. Volusia and Flagler counties are home to more than 30,000 licensed drivers who are 80 and older, including more than 4,000 who are older than 90. Those numbers are expected to only grow in coming years.

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Technology upgrades coming to classrooms

Decades of inadequate maintenance and deprioritization of technology have left classrooms across all City College campuses in a state of disrepair, according to Jay Field, the college's chief technology officer. The new standard smart classroom setup will include a computer, telephone, projector, projection screen, sound system, an audiovisual controller and an instructor station that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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UPDATE | Bainbridge Bakery has history of wage complaints with state

Bainbridge Bakers has had nine complaints over wages from employees that have been filed with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. Matthew Erlich of the Department of Labor & Industries said he could not provide details of the complaints that were under active investigation, and did not immediately have details on the cases from before 2015 that have been resolved.

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IG: Jefferson Parish paying too much overtime to exempt employees

Andrew Maestri, Jefferson Parish's chief administrative assistant, explains Parish President John Young's view on standby pay for employees to the Ethics and Compliance Commission Jefferson Parish paid as much as $1.5 million in a variety of unnecessary overtime expenses in 2013, according a parish inspector general 's audit. The audit examined overtime, standby, callout and other non-regular pay to employees who are not entitled to such additional compensation under federal regulations.

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Worried About Fiduciary Rule? 2 Options for Brokers

Advisors on the Move: Morgan Stanley Loses $750M Team The wirehouse lost the team to HighTower, and a former Wedbush executive jumped to a $2.6 billion RIA. See these and other moves in our latest recruiting roundup.

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Analysis: Watering Down the Fiduciary Standard?

VA employee says he was fired after warning of hospital cost

Be sure to include your name, daytime phone number, address, name and phone number of legal next-of-kin, method of payment, and the name of the funeral home/crematory to contact for verification of death. A whistleblower said he was fired by the Veterans Affairs Department after warning of cost overruns at the Denver VA hospital, prompting a rebuke Wednesday from members of Congress who questioned why higher-ranking executives haven't been punished.

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Cops gave a malware-laden drive to a lawyer for whistleblowers

Arkansas' Fort Smith Police Department may be responsible for some particularly sinister digital tricks, if you ask one lawyer. An attorney representing whistleblowers in a police corruption scandal says that the Department sent him a hard drive laden with trojans when he requested documents.

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More than 100 employers to attend April 28 job fair Updated at

One of the area's largest annual job fairs, the event will be held from 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at Elmira College's Murray Athletic Center in Pine Valley. The job fair is presented by Corning Community College, the Economic Opportunity Program, CSS Workforce NY, Southern Tier Economic Growth, Elmira College, Greater Southern Tier BOCES, Chemung County Chamber of Commerce, the state Department of Labor, the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency and the Schuyler County IDA.

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City, landlord not sweating Fletcher's future

Uber Update: No Easy Fixes For Cab Code

Yesterday's Portland City Council work session to rebuild our "broken" taxi code and allow transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft to operate alongside traditional cab companies may have answered some questions - but commissioners aren't ready to settle on details just yet. "It's important that we do this right," says Commissioner Amanda Fritz.

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Fighting bureaucracy

True public servants are frowned upon by some in the federal bureaucracy. Anyone daring to rock the boat by going public with evidence of malfeasance risks retaliation.

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President Obama, in Equal Pay Town Hall, Says Healthcare Has to be a Right

President Obama is conducting a series of town halls with women about the success of Obamacare as well as the need to create equal pay for equal work. He traveled to Charlotte, NC and took questions from the BlogHer and SheKnows communities.

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Lawmakers: VA fired whistleblower, not executives

Members of Congress criticized the Veterans Affairs Department Wednesday for firing a whistleblower who warned of cost overruns at the Denver VA hospital but taking no action against higher-ranking executives. A whistleblower said he was fired by the Veterans Affairs Department after warning of cost overruns at the Denver VA hospital, prompting a rebuke Wednesday from members of Congress who questioned why higher-ranking executives haven't been punished A whistleblower said he was fired by the Veterans Affairs Department after warning of cost overruns at the Denver VA hospital, prompting a rebuke Wednesday from members of Congress who questioned why higher-ranking executives haven't been punished.

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What's Worse Than Earning Oregon's Inadequate Minimum Wage? Having it Stolen

Oregon's minimum wage falls far short of giving working families economic security, so imagine the difficulties workers face when they don't even get paid the minimum. A recent U.S Department of Labor study reported that minimum wage violations - a form of wage theft - push families into poverty and create costs for the public.

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Workers Comp Drywall contracting firm hit with $1 million comp repay...

The owner of a former Washington state drywall contracting firm has been ordered to pay $1 million in delinquent workers compensation premiums and penalties after a state insurance board found that he misclassified his employees as co-owners to avoid paying premiums, according to the state Department of Labor and Industries. "The judgment is believed to be one of L&I's largest-ever holding an employer personally liable for his company's workers' comp premiums, interest and penalties," according to a statement Tuesday from the labor department, which is Washington state's monopoly workers comp insurer.

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VA employee says he was fired after warning of hospital cost

A whistleblower said he was fired by the Veterans Affairs Department after warning of cost overruns at the Denver VA hospital, prompting a rebuke Wednesday from members of Congress who questioned why higher-ranking executives haven't been punished. VA contract specialist Adelino Gorospe warned department executives in 2011 that the hospital would cost more than official estimates, The Denver Post reported.

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VA employee says he was fired after warning of hospital cost

A whistleblower said he was fired by the Veterans Affairs Department after warning of cost overruns at the Denver VA hospital , prompting a rebuke Wednesday from members of Congress who questioned why higher-ranking executives haven't been punished. VA contract specialist Adelino Gorospe warned department executives in 2011 that the hospital would cost more than official estimates, The Denver Post reported.

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VA employee says he was fired after warning of hospital cost

RFP - Roland Travel Plaza - Lounge Chairs

Cherokee Nation Entertainment, LLC a wholly owned company of the Cherokee Nation is seeking qualified bids for Furniture as defined *****Furniture Specifications***** There will be *NO SUBSTITUTIONS/ALTERNATES* on this RFP. On the attached spreadsheet found under the DOCUMENTS tab of this posting.

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Restaurant owner indicted in false payment scheme

The owner of a Mexican restaurant in Charleston was indicted Wednesday on charges that he lied to investigators with the U.S. Department of Labor and submitted falsified documents to that agency to make it appear as if he paid proper wages to his employees. Jose Jamie Villalpando, owner of the Senor Tequila restaurant at 1836 Ashley River Road, is facing four felony charges that carry a combined maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and $500,000 in fines.

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Driving simulator helps to keep seniors on the road

Next time you hit the highway ponder this statistic. Volusia and Flagler counties are home to more than 30,000 licensed drivers who are 80 and older, including more than 4,000 who are older than 90. Those numbers are expected to only grow in coming years.

http://ift.tt/1CProQQ

Greeley-Evans District 6 board approves contract for new superintendent

A Negative factor lawsuit: Interim Superintendent Wayne Eads asked the Greeley-Evans School District 6 Board of Education whether it wanted to support, in the form of per-pupil spending, a lawsuit against the State of Colorado's so-called "negative factor." The suit, filed this past June, argues the negative factor violates Amendment 23, which requires school funding to increase by inflation and enrollment growth every year.

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Exclusive: Documents Undermine NY Times Report On Clinton Emails

A New York Times report suggested that the State Department's official reply to a congressional inquiry into personal email use by government employees showed malfeasance by Hillary Clinton and her former department. But according to documents obtained by Media Matters , other federal agencies responded in a similar manner, undermining the Times' report.

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The Big Problem With the IRS

Conservatives are still fuming about the IRS' harassment of politically conservative groups applying for non-profit status. Lois Lerner's name and function as the arbiter of those applications still looms large in the Twittersphere and on conservative blogs.

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Mikulski urges Congress to pass Paycheck Fairness Act

Mikulski urges Congress to pass Paycheck Fairness Act Sen. Barbara Mikulski urged her colleagues Tuesday to make equal pay for equal work a reality. Check out this story on delmarvanow.com: "We want equal pay in our law books and equal pay in our checkbooks, and to finally get rid of the harassment that women face in the marketplace when they even ask about how much pay they make."

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Ex-Millstone contractor asks US to protect whistleblowers

A contractor who said he was fired from Millstone Power Station after he reported a co-worker abusing narcotics in 2011 has asked the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to protect whistleblowers at the nuclear plant. The Day of New London reports that Stephen Lavoie, an insulation contractor, raised the issue Tuesday at the NRC's annual meeting with the Nuclear Energy Advisory Council, a state oversight panel.

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DC should mandate E-Verify

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson recently told Congress that there are "lots" of illegal immigrants working "off the books," telling one congressman that if he were unaware of this fact, he should "spend some time in a restaurant here in the Washington, D.C. area" and see it for himself. While Johnson made clear he wasn't interested in doing anything to fix this, there is something the D.C. Council can do.

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A Decade After Blowing The Whistle On The FBI, Vindication

"I was basically told, 'we're going to look at the person that initially did it and we're going to look at you. And we may fire him or we may fire you,'" he says.

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LR board to weigh widening anti-bias rules for employees

House Minority Leader Eddie Armstrong, D-North Little Rock, left, acknowledges Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola, in this file photo. Little Rock is taking up an ordinance that would codify and extend its nondiscrimination policy, two months after the state Legislature voted to ban localities from passing anti-discrimination laws.

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Next President Will Either Protect LGBT Advances or Roll Them Back

It wasn't so long ago that LGBT Americans could be excluded from emergency evacuations, kept apart from a spouse in hospitals, outed at work by government officials, or straightwashed in the Census. Over the last seven years, the Obama administration has made unprecedented strides toward fixing discriminatory laws and creating new institutions to serve the needs of LGBT citizens.

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On the Clock, in the Closet

Researchers have begun to delve into the implications of carrying a concealable stigma-like sexual orientation, religious beliefs, or political allegiances-into the workplace. In 1994, investment banker Walter Schubert Jr. walked into a therapist's office and burst into tears .

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Local Organization to Honor Congressman Chris Van Hollen and 25th...

About 500 guests are expected at the Toast, which will benefit Jubilee's dynamic programs serving 135 adults throughout Montgomery County, allowing them to live as independently as possible, while staying close to family and friends. The event, 'Celebrating Milestones of Change', will also Toast two pieces of landmark legislation that have dramatically improved the lives of those with disabilities - The Americans with Disabilities Act , now celebrating its 25th year, created more opportunities for people with disabilities, and the recently passed ABLE Act, provided for greater financial freedom for people with disabilities and their families.

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A Decade After Blowing The Whistle On The FBI, Vindication

Kobus alerted his managers that a supervisor was allowing favorite employees to take time off for their birthdays, so the government had to pay more for other people at the agency to work overtime. "I was basically told we're going to look at the person that initially did it and we're going to look at you.

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A Decade After Blowing The Whistle On The FBI, Vindication

Top 5 Industries in New York: Which Parts of the Economy Are Strongest?

CSG Government Solutions' Mark Elliott Reappointed as National...

CSG Government Solutions, a national leader in government program modernization, today announced that Mark Elliott has been reappointed by the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs as a Standardization Co-Chair for the third consecutive year. As a longtime member of NCPDP and active participant in several NCPDP Committees and Task Groups, we are proud that Mark is able to continue this service to such an established organization."

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