Here is the latest issue of “This & That” Tuesday. I hope you find it to be informative and useful.

 

Announcements

You can always check out my website for upcoming speaking engagements that are guaranteed to be of value to business owners or for a list of topics that I can speak on at Chambers, Clubs, Business Associations, etc. More details about the events, topics and Human Resources 4U, in general, can be found on my website.

Upcoming Talks

July 9, City of Industry “HR4U 101 Full-day Workshop" Click here for more information.

 

July 17, West Covina "Critical Human Resources Issues for Business Owners" Click here for more information.

 

What are Qualifying Events under the Affordable Care Act?

• A change of income that affects your eligibility for a subsidy is considered a qualifying event that make you eligible for a special enrollment period of 60 days from the date of the change – such as an employment termination date.
• Getting married
• Gaining a dependent or becoming a dependent through marriage, birth, adoption, or placement for adoption
• Permanently moving to a new area that has different health plan options
• Losing other healthcare coverage that is considered minimum essential coverage
• A change in income that would affect an enrollee's eligibility for financial assistance
• Becoming a U.S. citizen
• As a result of an error, misrepresentation, or inaction by a QHP or agent.

 

EEOC And Cooper University Health Care Reach Accord on Reasonable Accommodation Issues

The EEOC announced today that Cooper  University Health Care has implemented policy changes that strengthen its  processes for addressing reasonable accommodations for employees who must be  absent from work due to serious medical conditions. Cooper has also  agreed to pay $500,000 to former employees to amicably resolve disputes over  the extent of reasonable accommodations previously granted.

 

"The EEOC is  committed to enforcing the Americans with Disability Act," said EEOC   "Cooper's agreement to enter into  this voluntary settlement signifies its commitment to provide reasonable  accommodations as required by the ADA." "We commend Cooper for engaging in a constructive  and successful conciliation process and for recognizing that some of its  employees were entitled to additional accommodations under the ADA, and  stepping up to do the right thing.  Its  actions should be emulated by employers nationwide."

 

One of the six national priorities  identified by the Commission's Strategic Enforcement Plan (SEP) is for the Commission to address emerging and developing issues in equal employment law,  including issues involving the ADA and pregnancy-related limitations, among  other possible issues.

 

Store Opening Solutions to Pay $20,000 to Settle EEOC Disability Discrimination Suit

A Tenn.-based retail support and services company has agreed to pay $20,000 to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit brought by the EEOC.

 

According to the EEOC's suit, Store Opening Solutions, Inc. (SOS) violated federal law by firing Janet Mykytyn because of her disability and refusing to provide her with a reasonable accommodation. Mykytyn's condition, macular and myopic degeneration of the eyes, affected her ability to see. Mykytyn received vocational training that allowed her to perform her job as fixture lead with a reasonable accommodation; however, the EEOC charged, SOS refused to accommodate her and unlawfully terminated her employment.

 

Such alleged conduct violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits employers from refusing to reasonably accommodate employees with disabilities and from discharging them because of their disability. The EEOC's lawsuit was filed after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.

 

Factoids

• Specialty drugs account for about 33% of all drug spending.
• Specialty drugs are 50 times more expensive than traditional drugs.
• $80 billion was spent on specialty drugs in 2012.
• The average cost of a specialty drug is $10,000 per month.

• The 2013 overall starting salaries for college graduates was $45,633 (up 2.6% from 2012)

• Engineering was the highest at $62,564 and humanities was the lowest at $38,045

 

Quotes

“I like it when a flower or a little tuft of grass grows through a crack in the concrete. It’s so …. heroic.”

~George Carlin~