Our team of experts fields real-life, everyday questions from HR managers and gives practical answers that can be applied by any HR pro in the same situation. Today’s question: Do employees on FMLA leave qualify for perfect-attendance bonuses? 

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Tags: absenteeism, bonuses, FMLA

As you stare at that mountain of HR paperwork on your desk, from time to time you may ask yourself: Is there a better, cheaper way to get some of this done? 

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Tags: 401(k), Conference Board, outsourcing

The Internal Revenue Service rejected many of the recommendations in an inspector general’s report about stopping identity theft. In effect, the tax agency said, “Let individuals and their employers handle it.”

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Tags: ID theft, internal revenue service, IRS, Social Security Number

Periodically, we ask three HR managers how they’d handle a real-life problem at work. Today’s problem: HR has to make a convincing argument to get more money from the budget.

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Tags: budget, CFO, software

All that “seat at the table” talk is nice, but there are sure signs that HR is — or isn’t — getting the respect and attention it needs to build a better organization. 

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Tags: Fortune 500, Liz Ryan, Personnel

Whether you’re thinking about offering health-club memberships or free coffee and doughnuts, there’s one step in the process than needs to be considered before putting the “OK” stamp on the idea: How will it fly if the day comes that we have to kill benefits or raise the cost to employees

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Tags: benefits, Google, health insurance, Towers Perrin

Most of us assume that in tough economic times, employees tend to contribute less to their retirement funds, and maybe that’s what you’re seeing in your organization. But what really is normal during tough times? And how can you tell if your employees contributions are in the range of normal? Fidelity Investments looked at 17,000 plans and came up with an answer.

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Tags: 401(k), Fidelity Investments, retirement

Two employees - maybe one of them is a supervisor — are involved in a nasty spat that’s dragging everyone down. Now it’s time for someone to step in - and that someone is you.

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Tags: conflicts, negotiation

HR and benefits manager Doug Reys looked around for ways HR could save money for his company and not just be seen as a cost center. He found a big nugget just by making one phone call.

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Tags: benefits, life insurance

In a development watched by employers across the country, the California legislature killed a bill that would have made paid sick leave mandatory.

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Tags: California, sick leave