Month: November 2011

Do Your Employees Have the Right Stuff?

Using Competency Models in Strategic Human Resource Management
By: Michael P. James, J.D., M.B.A.

Human Resource Management Professionals:

Have you been asked to complete a skill or competency analysis for employees in your organization? Are you in charge of evaluating or designing a talent/knowledge-based compensation system? Would you like to create training and certification programs to ensure that employees possess the skills required for the positions they hold in your company? These responsibilities can be overwhelming, yet they are also critical to the success of your organization. Where should you start?

Continue reading Do Your Employees Have the Right Stuff?

Foreclosure by Advertisement, Part II

November 10’s posting, below, predicted that the Michigan Supreme Court would deny leave to appeal from a decision regarding MERS’ right to foreclose by advertisement. As a lifetime Michigan resident, one should have known better to try to predict a Supreme Court’s decision. Doing so is like trying to predict our Great Lakes-influenced weather.

Continue reading Foreclosure by Advertisement, Part II

‘Tis the season to be gifting’

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and many of us are busy counting our blessings.  We wonder how to bless those who have blessed us.  We ask, “What would be an appropriate gift?”  “Should I get a present, give cash, or simply write a check?”  If your next question is, “What are the tax ramifications of my gift?” then you must be a tax attorney.  If that wasn’t your next question, this Q&A summary of the federal gift tax law is for you. 

Continue reading ‘Tis the season to be gifting’

HIPAA Audits of Covered Entities: Including Medical/Dental/Vision/Health FSA/HRA/Wellness/EAP Plans

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through its Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has begun a pilot audit program aimed at covered entities (and soon, business associates) regarding compliance with the HIPAA privacy / security / breach notification requirements.

Continue reading HIPAA Audits of Covered Entities: Including Medical/Dental/Vision/Health FSA/HRA/Wellness/EAP Plans

To Our Veterans, We give Thanks!

It is important that we remember and give thanks for the hard work and sacrifice of our country’s veterans, especially today, including those in the Fraser Trebilcock family who have honorably served in the military: 

  • Steve Burlingame
  • Mike Cavanaugh
  • Chuck Drayton
  • Don Hines
  • John Loose
  • Tom Smith
  • Ryan Wilson

The words of President Woodrow Wilson, in proclaiming the first Veterans Day in 1919, are as relevant today as then:
 “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.”

To all of our veterans, THANK YOU!

Foreclosure by Advertisement?

The Michigan Supreme Court heard arguments today on whether it should grant an application for leave to appeal from and reverse the Michigan Court of Appeals April 21, 2011 opinion in Residential Funding Co. LLC v. Saurman [“Saurman”] which held that Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems [“MERS”], a “nominee” [agent] of a lender and holder of a mortgage, lacked the legal authority to foreclose upon that mortgage by advertisement under Michigan law. Saurman held that because MERS failed to meet the statutory requirements for foreclosure by advertisement, the MERS foreclosures were void ab initio.

Continue reading Foreclosure by Advertisement?