Blog
Hiring decisions should be based on how well a candidate meets the qualifications outlined in the job description
Question: We have a hiring manager who doesn’t want to hire someone due to their weight. Can we reject their application for this reason? Answer: While weight in and of itself is not a protected characteristic under federal law, making a hiring decision on this basis is inadvisable. Hiring decisions should be based on how well a candidate meets the qualifications outlined in the job
California Local Minimum Wage Increases
California Law Alert- California Local Minimum Wage Increases On July 1, 2023, numerous cities and counties across California will increase their hourly minimum wage. The new rates are as follows: Alameda: $16.52 Berkeley: $18.07 Emeryville: $18.67 Fremont: $16.80 Long Beach hotels with 100+ guest rooms: TBD Los Angeles City: $16.78 Los Angeles City hotels with 60+ guest rooms: $19.73 Unincorporated
Federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Takes Effect
Federal employment law is about to give birth to some long-overdue requirements. As of June 27, 2023, employers with 15 or more employees must provide pregnancy-related accommodations to employees and applicants under the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). Below we’ll refer to employees and applicants collectively as “employees.” Pregnancy Related Accommodations Under the PWFA, employees are entitled to
More Companies Try To Lure Workers With Benefits
May 16, 2023 | Source: InvestmentNews, by Bloomberg News Over a year of rapid wage growth has U.S. companies turning to enhanced benefits to attract and retain workers. Mentions of employee benefits in job postings on ZipRecruiter soared to the highest rates on record, according to an analysis by the jobs site. A greater share of positions offered benefits like health insurance, paid time off
Happy Memorial Day Weekend
Have a safe and happy Memorial Day Weekend! Thank you to all those brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Our office will be closed in observance of on Monday, May 29, 2023. We will reopen on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at 8 a.m. PST.
Medi-Cal Will Soon End Some People’s Benefits. What This Means For You
April 4, 2023 | Source: Los Angeles Times, by Jon Healey Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in earnest, low-income Californians who enrolled in Medi-Cal — California’s version of the government-funded Medicaid health insurance program — have been able to keep their coverage without having to prove every year that they still qualified for it. That’s because the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which President Trump signed
IRS Gives Big Boost to HSA, HDHP Limits in 2024
May 17, 2023 | Source: SHRM, Kathryn Meyer Thanks in part to persistent high inflation, employees will be able to sock away a lot more money in their health savings accounts (HSAs) next year. Annual HSA contribution limits for 2024 are increasing in one of the biggest jumps in recent years, the IRS announced May 16: The annual limit on
Be the one who starts the workforce mental wellness conversation
It’s our job to empower you, as our clients, with benefits that meet employees’ changing needs The need for comprehensive mental wellness benefits will only grow. As a percent of total disability claims, mental health-related claims have doubled in the past decade from 7% to 14%.1 These rates can have an impact on your bottom line. Employees with unresolved depression experience a
Joint Statement from California Health & Human Services Leaders on Affordable Care Act Federal Ruling
Joint Statement from California Health & Human Services Leaders on Affordable Care Act Federal Ruling April 4, 2023 | Source: DMHC California Health & Human Services Agency (CalHHS) Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly, Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman and Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) Director Mary Watanabe issued the following joint statement after a federal judge in Texas issued a ruling today
Specialty Pharmacy Costs, Mental Health Are Top Employer Concerns. Here’s Why
March 2, 2023 | Source: Fierce Healthcare, by Frank Diamond Self-insured employers view the cost of specialty drugs as a major challenge in providing health benefits, according to a survey released yesterday by the Midwest Business Group on Health (MBGH). Cheryl Larson, MBGH’s president and CEO, told Fierce Healthcare that “the new million-dollar treatments approved by the FDA; 30 of our employers