IRS Announces 2010 Cost-of-Living Adjustments for Retirements Plans
The IRS has spoken! There will be no cost-of-living adjustments to qualified retirements plans in 2010. This announcement comes in an unsteady...
Outsourcing firms struggle with declining client base – Portland Business Journal
Xenium's own President, Anne Donovan was recently quoted in the Portland Business Journal after being asked about the current economy and how it has...
How Do You Manage Your Unemployment Claims?
The Federal-State Unemployment Insurance Program provides financial aid to eligible workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own, as...
Trick or Treat: Taking the scariness out of Halloween
(from Barran Liebman eAlert Volume 12, Issue 37 October 26, 2009) With Halloween upon us, Barran Liebman offers the following advice on hidden...
Oregon Jury Finds That Employer Must Compensate Workers For Donning and Doffing
(From Bullard eAlert Oct. 15, 2009 Wage and Hour Update) A recent jury verdict serves as a good reminder to employers: where an employer requires...
Xenium’s Hot Topic in HR Session for October: The Internet and Social Media – Asset or Liability?
Learn how to maximize your company’s marketing potential and minimize your employer liability in this two-part session. Part 1: Are you trying to...
Great is the Art of the Beginning, but Greater is the Art of the Ending – Health Care Reform on the Floor of the House and Senate
(From Barran Liebman Electronic Alerts Volume 12, Issue 35 October 13, 2009) Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine became the first Republican in the...
Maintaining a Healthy Workplace
This blog post was written by Shelley Johnson This year’s cold and flu season is nothing to sniff at. With smaller workforces doing more work,...
Oregon Governor Signs Law requiring AEDs in Public Places effective January 1, 2010
Oregon Company Helps Businesses Face the Challenge of Saving Lives From Jenée Bader – Paramedic and owner of HeartLINK Health Services Many...
Long-Term Organizational Success Requires Employee Engagement
Lately many organizations have questioned why their employees’ lack of motivation makes their days less and less productive. In down economic times,...
Top Executives Unveil Their Long-Term Success Using Unexplored Employer Strategies
Did you go into business to become an “employer” – or to drive growth in a successful company? Spending too much time thinking about payroll...
E-Verify Requirement for Federal Contractors Goes Into Effect Today
(From Barran Liebman Electronic Alert Volume 12, Issue 29, September 8, 2009) After nearly eight months of postponements, the new E-Verify system...
Health Reform is Coming, But What Does it Mean?
As a business owner, the talk of industry and economic changes seem to be inevitable; but clarity on issues can become challenging, especially when...
Employees Going Back To School
Watching our 401(k) slowly tank over the last year leaves most of us feeling that the most widely recognized employee investment vehicle is taking...
Creating Great Workplaces
(from the Xenium July 2009 Newsletter) by Cristi Jaksic Highly successful organizations all have something in common: a willingness to respond to...
Times Are Tough, But Don’t Cut Medical Coverage
Layoffs, wage freezes and a depressed 401(k) account - it is all a reality in 2009. Employers may be cutting expenses wherever needed in order to...
Federal Minimum Wage Increase
Federal Minimum Wage Increases Today to $7.25/hour: The U.S. Department of Labor sent the following announcement this morning: “The U.S. Department...
Children in the Workplace
A binky on the boardroom table? Teddies on a teleconference? Gurgles and coos and a faint smell of baby powder floating from a cubicle? Though still...
DHS Abandons Social Security No-Match Rule
Written by Ron Guerra, member of Jordan Schrader Ramis's Employment Law practice group Department of Homeland Security ("DHS") Secretary Janet...
No Need to Panic: USCIS Extends Validity of Current I-9
Written by Ron Guerra, member of Jordan Schrader Ramis's Employment Law practice group. Ron can be reached at 503-598-5540 The United States...
Private Becomes Public Through Social Networking Websites
By Brandon Laws and Molly Kelley With an advancing technological world, the Internet has reached new heights – especially with the ability to...
Have you struggled with your employee dress code?
Here comes the Seussian parade of tank tops and flip flops, knock-offs, cutoffs and crop tops. The sun is shining and temperatures and temptation...
STIMULUS BILL REVISITED – Oregon Continuation Coverage
Readers of our February 16 and April 6 eAlerts know that the federal stimulus bill, titled the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (and...
Federal Government Announces that Implementation of E-Verify Requirement for Federal Contractors Delayed Until June 30, 2009
Barran Liebman Electronic Alerts Electronic AlertSM Volume 12, Issue 15 April 17, 2009 On April 16, 2009, the federal government issued yet another...
One-on-One Growth
As the world economy shudders and contracts, businesses across the globe are struggling to come to terms with the changing economic landscape....
IRS Clarifies COBRA Subsidy Rules
The COBRA Subsidy is continually evolving. In a notice published March 31, 2009, the IRS addresses a number of significant issues resulting from the...
Just Around the Corner: The Revised Form I-9
(Thank you to our partner, Jordan Schrader PC for sharing this alert.) The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a department of the...
New FMLA Regulations for PEO
New joint employer coverage regulation changes the way PEOs and their clients will be treated under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Prior to...
Important Employer Update: Changes to COBRA Benefits
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, also known as the Stimulus Package, was signed into law February 17th, 2009. The Act contains...
Long-Term Organizational Success Requires Employee Engagement
Lately many organizations have questioned why their employees’ lack of motivation makes their days less and less productive. In down economic times,...
"What are you seeing on the employment front?"
This has been the most frequently asked question of me over the past month. Employers are looking for any insights or trends to best prepare...
Guide to Company Holiday Parties
(from the November 2008 newsletter) Company holiday parties are a great chance for employees to celebrate a successful year of business, recognize...
Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim
(from the November 2008 newsletter) Do you know what to do when one of your employees ask to file a workers’ compensation claim for an injury on the...
Bailout for Bikers
(from the November 2008 newsletter) Effective January 1, 2009, commuters who go by bike may be eligible for a greater reimbursement for bicycle...
Key Leadership Actions to Weather the Storm
(From the October 2008 Newsletter) Uncertain times require certain and strong leadership. The following Key Leadership Actions are recommended Keith...
Out and About
Xenium recently lent a hand to local non-profit, Our Family Adoptions. OFA partners with families and the community to provide loving homes and...
10 Employee Motivators – Sometimes it’s the little things that make a big difference!
Top employers understand that compensation and benefits are an important part of an employee's satisfaction, but there are other non-financial...
Out and About – Stoller Group Invitational Golf Event
Most days, we like working at Xenium. But on the days that involve sunny skies and golf, we LOVE working here. We recently celebrated at the Stoller...
How to Outsource to Your Best Advantage
Thanks to Dave Mullan at Vistage, for sending us this article written by another Vistage member, Barbara Bry. As a business leader, you have to...
Are Worksite Health Promotion Programs Cost-Effective?
Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that comprehensive worksite health promotion programs, or Corporate Wellness Programs, can lower health care...
Xenium's First Vitality Fair
On May 30, Xenium hosted our first ever vitality fair for the employees of Express Employment Professionals. More than 50 people attended the event...
Oregon Supreme Court Says No Wage Claim for Alleged Rest Break Violations
Our partners at Bullard Smith Jernstedt Wilson have shared this important update with us. In an important decision issued on May 15, the Oregon...
Xenium's Staff is Certifiable
We've always been crazy about what we do -- helping well intended Northwest employers be their best -- but we can take added pride as a leader in...
Summer Activities Made Simple Through Lifebalance. Just in time for summer!
MyLifeBalance is a component of the LifeBalance Program that includes personalized tools, content and more. Current features include: NEW! The...
U.S. Supreme Court Expands Potential for Civil Rights Liability
In a 6-2 decision, the Supreme Court has ruled that a provision of the 1966 Civil Rights Act prohibiting race discrimination permits retaliation...
Two Simple Ways To Deal With Prediabetes
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 41 million Americans have prediabetes. Most of them are not aware that they have it....
BOLI Issues Meal Period Exemption Regulations
Our partners at Barran Liebman sent us an update on these new BOLI regulations. Effective January 1, 2008, the Oregon legislature passed a bill...
The Top 25 Signs of a Dysfunctional Workplace
Every workplace has its quirks. But some offices can be downright toxic. Scarlet Pruitt of HR World has put together a list of the top 25 signs that...
Why Stress Is Deadly
(This article originally appeared at LiveScience.com. You can view the original article here.) If you're worried about your health, stop. You're...
What to Expect in 2008: Work, Work, Work
(This article originally appeared at LiveScience.com. You can view the original article here.) If you've resolved to work less or cut stress in...
New in Washington: Cell Phones and Driving Don't Mix
While this may be a stretch to deem an HR issue, new traffic laws in the state of Washington effect those of us that call Washington home (or simply...