The Changing Policy Landscapet

The new administration has many new initiatives in the pipeline that will effect how we in HR do business going forward. Each of you need to be up to speed on these new policies that affect the workplace:

• ADAAA - the Americans With Disabilities Act Amendments Act that when into effect on 1/1/09
  
• FMLA - Family & Medical Leave Act as amended went into effect on 1/1/09 with sweeping changes on how we need to administer leave for employees
• Changes in cost of COBRA to laid off workers means more cost to companies for those individuals who were laid off from September 2008 going forward
• Ledbetter Fair Pay Act on pay for females signed on January 29, 2009
• Employee Free Choice Act will critically define how we as HR practitioners deal with union organizing.

Keep abreast of these changes so you do not get caught in a legal trap of not administering these policy changes correctly. I attended an HR meeting earlier this month on FMLA and the changes are dramatic. Make sure you are up to date on the new rules and forms that need to be completed. More paperwork and administration.