September 14, 2011 – "For most professionals who must hire, manage, or supervise employees, keeping up with all the latest changes in employment law can seem like a full-time job in itself. They already have enough duties on their plate and would welcome expert assistance. That is when the Tennessee Employer's Guide can help."

Those words come from Theresa Jones, Chief Executive Officer of Blue Gavel Press, a national information resource for America's business community. Blue Gavel Press has released the newly updated Tennessee Employer's Guide, 20th Edition. Updated annually, the guide is a key employment law resource for business owners, supervisors, managers, and human resources professionals statewide.

"The Tennessee Employer's Guide integrates federal and state regulations and laws affecting the employer-employee relationship," Jones said. "Plus, it includes vital information on managing employees, developing employment policies, and avoiding liability for employment law violations."

No "Legal-Speak" Here
According to Jones, the Tennessee Employer's Guide is free of "legal-speak." "The guide's reader-friendly writing style eliminates legal jargon," Jones said. "A reference work that's hard to understand is only opened once. After that, it collects dust. This guide is meant for regular use."

Topics covered in the guide include Hiring; Managing Employees and Personnel Costs; Termination of Employment; Health and Safety; Employment Discrimination; Wages, Hours, and Child Labor; Employee Benefits and Leave; Personnel Records; Workplace Privacy; and Unions and Government Contractors.
 
Highlights of the new edition include:

•       The Tennessee Lawful Employment Act, which requires employers to verify the work authorization status of employees and other workers.
•       Updated sections on Tennessee law regarding workers’ compensation, employment contracts, whistleblowers, handgun regulations, military leave, wage deductions, union contracts and dues, prevailing wages, and more.
•       New regulations clarifying the meaning of the term “disability” under the ADA Amendments Act.
•       New federal law requiring employers to provide specific benefits for nursing mothers.
•       New regulations implementing the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
•       Changes in unemployment taxes and income taxes, including computation and reporting requirements.
•       New laws affecting employee retirement plans, new rollover provisions for 401(k) plans, and proposed regulations concerning the Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
•       Proposed amendments to the National Labor Relations Act, which could change the way unions are recognized.

"We take care of all this research so business professionals statewide have more time for everything else on their to-do lists," Jones said.

Developed and updated by imminent legal authorities and compliance specialists, Blue Gavel Press employment guides provide up-to-date facts on top safety, human resources, compliance, and legal topics. Products offered by Blue Gavel Press have been helping the business community for more than 23 years.

To find out more about the Tennessee Employer's Guide, 20th Edition, visit www.bluegavel.com/products/122-tennessee-employers-guide.aspx.

To find out more about Blue Gavel Press, visit www.BlueGavel.com.