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Special Reports

Like our award-winning monthly newsletter, every CER publication distills into plain English the essentials you need to know to comply with the state and federal rules and regulations governing your relationship with your employees. Save valuable time and money, and dramatically reduce the risk of a devastating lawsuit. Available immediately with a 7-day trial.

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You'll find that the Special Reports below are brief (12 pages or less) and easy to read and understand. Our Employer Guides are similar in approach—still concise, but more comprehensive (from 20 to 26 pages). There's no need to wade through references to obscure court rulings and regulations of interest only to lawyers. Instead, you get the results of our painstaking analysis: to-the-point, practical, real-world advice on what you need to do now to stay up to date—and out of court.

DOWNLOAD: California's new disability regulations: What employers need to know
June 2013

In one of its last acts before its duties were transferred to the Department of Fair Employment and Housing on January 1, 2013, the California Fair Employment and Housing Commission released sweeping new disability discrimination regulations under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). The regulations--which were first proposed in 2011 and took effect December 30, 2012--are intended to bring California law more in line with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA). The regs broaden the definition of "disabilities," with the result that some impairments and medical conditions not previously covered by FEHA may now fall within the statute. They also expand the protections for individuals with disabilities, establishing new requirements for both the interactive process and reasonable accommodations. This Special Report will help you identify areas in your policies and practices that may require updating to remain in compliance with the law. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: What's new for 2013: Workplace developments affecting employers--And how to comply
January 2013

California's reputation as an employee-friendly state continues to thrive under a Democratic governor and legislature. In the second year of his latest term in office, Governor Brown signed another round of employment-related bills into law, most of which take effect January 1, 2013.

This exclusive Special Report will walk you through these developments, giving you a sneak preview of what's coming your way--and how to prepare--in 2013. We've included a helpful 11-point checklist of what you should do to make sure your policies and procedures conform to the new requirements. Additionally, as a special bonus, our CEA Online subscribers can access the materials mentioned here on our website. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Nontraditional workers: Independent contractors, contingent workers, interns, and more
December 2012

Independent contractors, contingent workers, interns, part-time employees, and volunteers make attractive options in tough economic times. They can provide valuable flexibility, save you money on wages, benefits, and employment taxes, and reduce your potential liability.

But these workers also bring some special legal considerations with them and could attract attention from a variety of federal and state agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), and the California Employment Development Department (EDD).

This Special Report will help you avoid the lurking legal landmines when you use nontraditional staffing arrangements. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Social Media and HR--How to Manage Your Risks
June 2012

Whether at work or not, your employees could be using Facebook, Twitter, and other widely accessed social media sites to post racy photos and videos, pen harsh or profanity-laced blogs, or criticize your company and management. Even if they only post seemingly innocuous "status updates" about their day, or take a more passive-observer approach to social media, your employees' activities open you up to a wide range of potentially costly legal and reputational risks.

This Special Report will bring you up to speed on the risks out there and provide practical advice on how to reduce your exposure. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: What's New for 2012: Workplace Developments Affecting California Employers--And How to Comply
January 2012

This exclusive Special Report will walk you through these developments, giving you a sneak preview of what's coming your way--and how to prepare--in 2012. We've included a helpful 11-point checklist of what you should do to make sure your policies and procedures conform to the new requirements. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Premium Pay in California: Overtime, Reporting Time, Split Shifts, and More
December 2011

This Special Report will help you steer clear of state wage and hour risks by bringing you up-to-date on your obligations under the relevant legal provisions. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Final ADAAA Regulations: What California Employers Need to Know--and Do--To Comply
June 2011

In this Special Report, we explain some of the most important changes in the final regulations and what you can do to comply with both federal and state disabilities laws. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: What's New for 2011: Workplace Developments Affecting California Employers--And How to Comply
January 2011

This exclusive Special Report will walk you through these new laws and cases, giving you a sneak preview of what's coming your way--and how to prepare--in 2011. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Healthcare Reform: What It Means for California Employers
January 2011

This Special Report, written specifically for California employers, will equip you with a working knowledge of the law's provisions and provide you and your company with proactive steps to take now and in the coming years. We include a quick-reference chart that lets you scan important changes, year by year, as well as a 10-step checklist of what you should be doing now. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Independent Contractors--Avoiding Costly Lawsuits Through Proper Classification
June 2010

In this Special Report, we lead you step-bystep through the process of evaluating whether a worker should be classified as an employee or an independent contractor. We examine various tests for determining a worker's status and present 12 steps you can take to minimize the risk of misclassifying a worker. We also provide information about how to deal with the consequences of misclassification. Finally, we include a sample legal agreement that you can use with independent contractors. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Five Steps to Legal Background Checks That Really Work
October 2009

This Employer Guide sets out five steps for conducting legal background checks in California that really work--so you hire the right people the first time around. In addition, we have provided you with several forms that will be useful in setting up a background check policy. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Navigating a Reduction in Force
August 2008

The economy is in a slump, and it's not clear when economic indicators will start to look up. Most employers are feeling the pinch and looking for ways to cut costs to stay afloat. For some, layoffs may be--or already are--on the horizon. Making your way through a reduction in force (RIF) can be one of the more difficult and multifaceted tasks an employer faces. How do you decide whether to cut jobs? What's the best way to select who must go? How can you avoid age bias claims? . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Win the Recruiting War -- How to Find and Hire Great Employees
June 2008

Is it really getting harder to recruit and retain qualified employees? The answer is an unqualified "yes." Many employers are aware that significant changes in the U.S. population are causing workplace shortages and changes in the way in which employers must recruit to fill job openings. What many employers don't know, however, is that the U.S. labor market is only at the beginning of what some HR experts are calling the "workforce meltdown"--the clash between a diminishing supply of qualified workers and the explosive increase in need for those workers. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Understanding Workers' Compensation: A Guide for California Employers
November 2007

This exclusive Special Report will guide you through the nuts and bolts of the California workers' comp system, including information on benefits and insurance coverage; what to do when someone gets injured; setting up a return-to-work program; posting and notice obligations; detecting fraud; where to go when you have questions; and other day-to-day workers' compensation issues employers must know about. We include a wealth of useful tips, a sample policy, and a checklist, all designed to make your administration of workers' comp a little bit easier. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: The Employer's Compliance Guide to Supervisor Sexual Harassment Training in California
July 2007

This Special Report contains everything employers need to know to comply with the supervisor antiharassment training law. This all-new guide covers the basic provisions of A.B. 1825 and the Fair Employment and Housing Commission (FEHC) regulations that implement it. This guide also provides compliance checklists and a model antiharassment policy and policy acknowledgement form . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Employee Complaints: An Investigation and Action Guide
September 2006

Suppose an employee tells you she was sexually harassed by a supervisor. Or an employee reports that a co-worker is violating a company policy. Or perhaps a worker informs you that an expensive piece of equipment is dangerous and should be replaced. In this Special Report, we've created a workplace investigation and action guide that all employers - regardless of size - can use as a checklist to help focus on the critical issues. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Performance Appraisals: How to Bolster Employee Performance and Decrease Your Risk of Lawsuits
June 2006

In this exclusive employer guide, we'll tell you what performance appraisals are, why they're so important, and some key do's and don'ts. We'll walk you through the process from start to finish, and give you two sample performance appraisal forms that you can use as a starting point when crafting or revising your own materials. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Prehire Screening--Safe, Successful Ways to Check Out Applicants, an Essential Guide for California Employers
December 2005

Prehire screening takes a number of different forms and can include reference checking, license and education verification, medical or psychological testing, drug screening, skills testing, and credit checks. In this Employer Guide, we explore screening procedures closely to evaluate when they are appropriate and identify the legal risks associated with them. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: The Complete Guide to Understanding and Preventing Age Bias in the Workplace
April 2008

Age bias has become a pervasive problem in American workplaces. This Special Report will explain exactly what you need to do to stay out of trouble and reap the benefits of a seasoned workforce. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: How to Create Job Descriptions That Prevent Employee Lawsuits and Simplify Your Hiring Process -- An Essential Guide for California Employers
January 2004

This comprehensive guide takes you step-by-step through the process of drafting job descriptions. We've included practical information on why job descriptions are important to have in place, which details you should--and should not--include in them, and how to make sure your job descriptions stay up-todate. You'll also find a handy drafting checklist and sample job descriptions. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Paid Time Off Banking Kit: How You Can Save Money, Boost Morale, and Increase Efficiency
May 2005

It's the Friday before a long holiday weekend, and one of your employees calls in sick--again. You're left short-staffed and backed up with work. If this scenario is all too familiar, consider whether your time off policy is contributing to unscheduled absences. Many employers have found that Paid Time Off (PTO) policies are quite effective in controlling these unanticipated absences and rewarding employees who don't abuse sick leave. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Defuse the Violence: Protect Your Workforce—And Your Company: An Exclusive Employer Guide from the Employer Resource Institute
April 2005

This 28-page Employer Guide contains a 7-step program for preventive action, tips for how to respond when violence erupts, sample policies, and more. Workplace violence is a serious problem. Frightening and sometimes tragic incidents of workplace rage are being reported more frequently. A survey by the Society for Human Resource Management reveals that more than half the companies in the United States have experienced some form of workplace violence . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Domestic Partner Benefits Programs: A Practical Guide for California Employers
January 2004

But if you're considering offering domestic partner benefits, some thorny matters can arise, such as eligibility questions, tax issues, confidentiality concerns, and compliance with new laws. This guide addresses the questions you'll most likely encounter when deciding whether to implement or revise a domestic partner benefits program. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Setting Up a Telecommuting Program - A Toolkit For Employers
January 2004

Determining whether telecommuting arrangements will work for you and your employees requires consideration of a host of issues ranging from workers' compensation to liability insurance, from health and safety to employee productivity, from scheduling to wage and hour concerns. We've put together a comprehensive guide that addresses these areas and much more. You'll also find a practical sample policy, agreement and home office safety checklist that you can use to put a successful telecommuting program in place at your company. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Privacy Issues In The Workplace: Monitoring And Testing Employees In California
January 2004

The rapid growth of technology in the workplace has created a host of new issues about how to balance the employer's right to control the workplace with the employee's right to privacy. Privacy issues in the workplace abound--from electronic monitoring and surveillance to alcohol and drug testing to polygraphs. And now more than ever, the limits of workplace privacy are being put to the test. How this struggle will play out remains to be seen. For now, employers must examine this balance and create rules for the workplace that protect their businesses while simultaneously protecting the rights of their employees. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Employer Response To Crisis And Emergency: An ERI Special Report
January 2004

Many employers face a broad and complicated host of workplace issues in the post-9/11 era. These range from how to develop a disaster preparedness plan and set up resources to deal with employee stress, to pay and military leave issues, to political speech and harassment problems. This Special Report is designed to answer employer questions about legal obligations, provide practical tips that can help you keep your business running efficiently in these uncertain times, and offer helpful resources for more information. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: The Step-By-Step Sexual Harassment Prevention Guide for California Employers
April 2005

In this Special Report, we pull together the latest rules and advice on what constitutes sexual harassment--and how you can prevent it. We also examine how to investigate harassment complaints, protect yourself from lawsuits by fired harassers, handle harassment charges involving vendors or customers, manage the delicate issue of workplace dating, and comply with recent California rules regarding sexual harassment training for managers. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: 50 Secrets for Preventing Employee Lawsuits--Plus 10 Tips for Saving Money and Aggravation If You're Sued
June 2008

Our 50-point self-audit checklist pulls together--in an easy-to-follow format--all the important areas that should be reviewed at least annually by small and large employers alike. Customize the checklist to fit your own needs, and remember to perform an audit whenever your organization has undergone significant changes. Also, the Appendix includes practical sample forms and policies you can tailor to your organization's needs to help bring your company into compliance with the maze of legal requirements. . . . more

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