Firing for bad attitude doesn’t violate labor law, NLRB says

By Tim Gould

You often hear managers whining about how “you can’t fire somebody for a bad attitude.” That’s wrong — and a recent National Labor Board ruling actually confirms that.

A three-member panel of the NLRB recently issued a decision concerning Copper River, a restaurant in Boiling Springs, SC. Two employees had complained that they were fired because of earlier efforts to organize employees there.

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For the love of leisure: Why you need your R & R

By Arleen Fitzgerald

You work hard. But, how are you at relaxing? It should be easy, right?

When we're busy, it can be tough to unwind. We'd like to and hope to … when we get around to it. But, relaxation and recreation are more than wants — or wishes. They're essentials for your well-being.

When you enjoy your downtime — free from work or duties — it offers an emotional lift that gives you energy and confidence to tackle everyday challenges. And, losing yourself in leisure may even decrease harmful stress-related hormones and strengthen your immune system.

The bottom line: You can be happier, healthier and more productive when you take time for leisure.

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Tip Tuesday! BREAKING NEWS - IRS, HHS RELEASE ADDITIONAL FINAL REGULATIONS

By Bill Olson

On March 5, 2014, the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service released the final employer-shared responsibility ("play or pay") reporting rules. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) requires reporting in support of the individual and employer-shared responsibility requirements and premium tax credit/subsidy eligibility, under Sections 6055 and 6056 of the Internal Revenue Code. Fully insured employers with fewer than 50 full-time or full-time equivalent employees generally will not need to report. Larger insured plans and all self-funded plans will need to file reports. The final rule will permit use of a single form to fulfill reporting obligations under both parts of the law.

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Surprise in Obamacare’s waiting period rules could be used to your advantage

By Jared Bilski

Lost in the wake of all the hullabaloo about further delays of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) employer mandate was another important rule clarification.

The feds just issued the final rule on employee waiting periods for healthcare coverage under the ACA, and they added a proposal that may very well allow health plans to extend the total waiting period beyond the 90-day maximum.

The bulk of the final rule is consistent with the proposed regs the feds had issued previously, and simply clarifies some of the finer points of the law.

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Using independent contractors: 5 things you need to read right now

By Christian Schappel

The compounding effect of five developments in employment law has made using independent contractors significantly more appealing and risky at the same time.

The independent contractor marketplace has become a powder keg, and employers need to be aware of new tripwires that have been established that could make it blow up in their faces.

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Feds boost efforts for ACA sign-ups, penalty communication

By Alex Wayne

Bloomberg) — Facing an end-of-the-month deadline, the U.S. government is increasing efforts to enroll millions more Americans into Obamacare, including appeals from President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle.

The Obama administration also is developing a strategy to communicate to Americans the penalty for going without insurance after March 31. People without insurance face fines of as much as 1% of their income, a penalty that hasn’t been mentioned in the government’s advertising.

About 4 million Americans have so far signed up for private health plans under the Affordable Care Act. As many as 3.5 million more have enrolled in Medicaid, according to Avalere Health, a Washington-based consulting firm. The administration’s success signing up more people in the last month of enrollment will have repercussions for insurers, who must set rates for 2015 by the end of May, and in congressional elections this November.

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New Obamacare regs: Dependents you no longer have to cover

By Jared Bilski

Delays of the play-or-pay penalties weren’t the only relief to come out of the feds’ final rules on the “shared-responsibility” mandate.

The final rules also include a significant amount of relief in terms of dependent-care coverage.

Originally, for pay-or-play purposes, the feds had defined the term “dependents” to include biological children, stepchildren, adopted children and foster children.

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