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Compensation & Benefits

Can we require women to repay maternity leave benefits if they quit before returning to work?

04/28/2010
Q. Our maternity leave policy offers paid leave for female employees who plan to return to work after the birth of the child. If the employee quits before returning to work, she’s required to reimburse the company for the paid leave. Is this lawful?

Can we limit cash awards to just some employees?

04/28/2010
Q. When we win contracts, we recognize employees with cash awards. But these awards may be given only to the select few employees who were involved. Is this legally OK?

Lowe’s to offer free employee health screenings

04/28/2010
Home improvement giant Lowe’s is offering free health screenings to its employees. Lowe’s partnerships with health care providers throughout Pennsylvania mean employees will be able to get free checks of their blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, waist size, hip size, weight, height, body fat percentage and body-mass index.

Inability to work overtime doesn’t constitute disability

04/28/2010
Employees with psychological problems may claim they can’t handle the stress of working more than a regular 40-hour week. But if that’s the only restriction the employee has, he’s probably not disabled.

Independent judgment, discretion key to administrative exemption under Pa. law

04/28/2010

Under the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act (PMWA), employees engaged in administrative work aren’t eligible to collect overtime pay. But what about employees who spend a lot of time in the field—calling on clients or prospects, for example?

COBRA subsidy expanded, extended through May 31

04/28/2010
On April 15, President Obama signed into law amendments to the COBRA subsidy provision of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus. Those amendments—plus amendments enacted in March—not only extend the time that the subsidy is available, but also offer it to certain individuals whose hours were reduced before they were involuntary terminated.

Lowe’s to offer free employee health screenings

04/28/2010
Home improvement giant Lowe’s is offering free health screenings to its employees. Lowe’s partnerships with health care providers throughout North Carolina mean employees will be able to get free checks of their blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, waist size, hip size, weight, height, body fat percentage and body-mass index.

Georgia firm adds ‘medical tourism’ to benefits

04/28/2010

Employees of IDMI Systems in Warner Robins, Ga., who are willing to travel out of the United States for medical procedures could pay 80% less than they would if they had surgery at home. The firm, which develops automation software for the insurance industry, has added an international medical travel option to its employee health plan.

5 keys to boosting participation in your health plan

04/27/2010

Innovative employers are applying five new principles when they talk to employees about health and health insurance. As you look for ways to encourage employees to be active, informed consumers of the health benefits you offer, see how many you can incorporate into your own communication plans.

Take a hike: Tomorrow is National Walk @ Lunch Day

04/27/2010
Get ready to trade working lunches for walking lunches. On April 28, employees at thousands of companies will take part in “National Walk @ Lunch Day.” It’s not too late to organize your own lunchtime trek—we’ve got links to the planning tools you need.