Tag, you (employers) are it!
For those of you who remember playing the childhood game of Tag, you might feel like you’ve just been “tagged” under the U. S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) new “Plan/Prevent/Protect” strategy. This new strategy is outlined in DOL’s Spring 2010 Regulatory Agenda and seeks to place increased responsibility on employers to take steps to ensure [...]
If the recession is over, then what’s next?
Many economists and government representatives tell us the recession has ended. An official declaration based on economic statistics may be months away. And, while individuals vary in their predictions, there is a general expectation that the economic environment will gradually improve over time. As we encounter more signs of vitality — increased hustle and bustle [...]
Find out what kind of car matches your budget
It’s a good time to buy a car — if you do it right As automobile manufacturers work to recover what was lost in the Great Recession, many are offering up sweet deals to car buying customers. If you’re among those tempted to drive off the showroom with shiny new wheels, it’s important to do [...]
Selling your small business? Keep these things in mind
Thinking about stepping down from your small business to retire or pursue other passions? If you hope to sell it for a profit, there are many things to consider and do to ensure a successful transaction and transition. Assess and assign value. Arriving at a realistic valuation for your business can be tricky. Setting your [...]
EEOC sees spike in male sexual harassment claims
The most recent EEOC statistics show that the number of sexual harassment complaints by men is growing. In fiscal 2009, there were 2,094 harassment charges filed by men. Those claims made up over 16 percent (more than one of every six) of all sexual harassment claims handled by EEOC. The EEOC does not keep a [...]
Investors look to a new decade
If you feel your portfolio hasn’t made much progress over the last 10 years, you’re not alone. Historians may well look upon this period as a “lost decade” for investors. It’s difficult to remember that the environment was completely different at the outset of this decade. As the 1990s came to a close and the [...]
DOL publishes answers about employee hours, pay reductions
The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage & Hour Division has published a list of frequently asked questions about furloughs and other reductions in pay and hours. The beginning point under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is that employers are required to pay all non-exempt employees the full minimum wage and any overtime on the [...]
Employers being sued over inflexible leave policies
A number of cases are being brought across the country challenging employers’ inflexible leave policies, sometimes known as administrative separation policies, under which an employee is terminated for failure to return to work following a maximum period allowed for a leave of absence. Many employers have policies that if an employee is absent for leave [...]
Five pitfalls you should avoid in retirement
You work hard and save aggressively so that one day you can retire from the workforce. When the fabled day arrives and you enter the blissful state of retirement, you may be tempted to think you’re done agonizing over your money and savings. The truth is the hard work is probably just beginning. Assuming you’re [...]
Sorting through the financial professionals alphabet soup
One of the biggest lessons coming out of the recent bear market is that you need to find financial professionals you can rely upon. A number of factors can go into the process, such as the professional background and history of the individuals you are considering, referrals from others who have used them and your [...]
