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Dec 09 2013
Employee Benefits

IRS relaxes FSA “use it or lose it” rule

IRS Notice 2013-71 allows employers to amend their cafeteria plan documents to provide that up to $500 in unspent FSA funds can be rolled over to reimburse qualified medical expenses incurred during that subsequent plan year. Some employers already offer a “grace period” under their FSA, where employees can continue to incur expenses during the…

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Dec 05 2013
Safety and Health

Distractions from mobile phones can pose big safety risks

These days people are so coupled to their mobile phones that it’s like a bodily appendage. People obsessively check and interact with devices everywhere, even at inappropriate times and events. You may think you’re an excellent multi-tasker, but cognitive research shows that perception is off-base. At work, the problem isn’t limited to loss of production…

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Nov 25 2013
DisabilityHiringImmigration

Temporary workers—whose employee is this?

A: You may not consider employees that you obtain from a temporary services company to be your employees, at least until you hire them on a permanent basis, but the law might. And, different laws apply differently to the temporary employment relationship, for example:   Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): Under the FMLA,…

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Nov 21 2013
Wage and HourWashington

WASHINGTON: 2014 minimum wage to be $9.32 per hour

The minimum wage in Washington will rise from $9.19 to $9.32 per hour, effective January 1, 2014. The 13-cent increase was announced by the Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), which evaluates the minimum wage in the fall each year, based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. Tips: Washington employers aren’t required to…

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Nov 18 2013
Q&AWage and Hour

Does a written policy shield an employer from claims of “off-the-clock” work?

A: Not necessarily. Having a clear policy on time reporting is essential, and requiring employees to verify in writing the hours worked is a “best practice” that Vigilant recommends. But, if supervisors encourage employees to under-report their hours, or the employer has reason to know that the time records are not accurate, then the written…

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Nov 14 2013
CaliforniaHiringLeave Laws

New California employment-related laws to take effect in 2014

Governor Brown has recently signed a flurry of California bills into law. At press time, a number of bills are still at the Governor’s desk awaiting signature or veto. So, stay tuned and Vigilant will continue to report on developments. Here is a summary of key new employment-related laws to date, with links to the…

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Nov 14 2013
HiringImmigrationQ&A

Cutting corners on Form I-9 leads to big penalties

A: No, attaching photocopies of employees’ documentation, but leaving sections of the form itself incomplete, is not sufficient for I-9 purposes. One small employer who took that approach recently found itself with a bill for $173,500 in penalties from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The employer had photocopied each employee’s documentation and attached it to…

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Nov 11 2013
Uncategorized

Hiring references: Loose lips lead to retaliation claim

Ever breathe a sigh of relief when certain employees depart? When you get a request for a reference from a potential employer regarding your ex-employee, you should carefully consider the information you share. That’s one of the lessons from a recent federal district court case alleging retaliation. The defendant in this case, Creative Business Solutions,…

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Nov 08 2013
Employee BenefitsWashington

New Association Health Plan Option in Washington!

We’re pleased to announce a new association health plan option in Washington: Vigilant Manufacturers’ Trust (VMT). Vigilant Manufacturers’ Trust is the only Regence BlueShield / Asuris Northwest Health association specifically designed for production-line manufacturing groups which will offer medical coverage through Regence BlueShield and Asuris Northwest Health. We will also offer Vision coverage through VSP,…

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Oct 31 2013
Leave LawsQ&A

FMLA Certifications from Foreign Doctors

A: Yes, if she is eligible for leave and you receive timely, complete, and sufficient information supporting the need for leave from her mother’s health care provider. A certification from a foreign provider is sufficient under the FMLA, so long as that person is authorized to practice in his or her country, which is understandably…

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Oct 24 2013
Uncategorized

Wall Street regulator canned for sex harassment, then applied 574 times to 82 positions

For all of you dealing with some form of HR nightmare, take heart—someone always has it worse than you. Case in point: According to documents filed in a New York court, a love-addled former Wall Street employee who evidently doesn’t know the meaning of “no,” waged a one-sided war against the HR Manager of her…

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Oct 24 2013
HiringImmigrationQ&A

Should we use E-Verify during our hiring process?

A: Possibly. All employers must complete the Form I-9 for new employees and, as a part of that process, be able to review the documentation provided to ensure validity. Many employers struggle with being able to recognize forged documentation, even when using resources available from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, such as the “Handbook…

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If you are a manufacturing or agriculture employer in Washington and committed to keeping your employees safe and working, you may be eligible for Vigilant's workers' compensation Retro or claims management programs. To see if you qualify fill out our release form now, or contact us.

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