If you would like to receive a text version of this newsletter, please reply to this email. If you would like to access the e-News online, click here.

Observation Deck

Before I ask you to invest precious minutes of your day reading another newsletter, I first need to answer the intriguing question uttered by Ross Perot’s 1992 Presidential campaign running mate Admiral James Stockdale, “Who am I? And why am I here?” Complete Story

pEople

Capitalizing on “e” Technologies to Maximize Your Most Valuable Resource

e-Technologies are currently available that have the potential to revolutionize the management of people. With Employee Self-Service and Management Self-Service modules, existing Internet and Intranet infrastructures, and the creation of dynamic, user-friendly interfaces, today’s technologies can be used to significantly improve productivity…without recreating the whEEl. Complete Story

Tips from a Techy

PeopleSoft 8 – Coping with Security During the Upgrade to PeopleSoft V8

Each organization’s HRIS security requirements are unique. PeopleSoft made many assumptions about security data and established a “one size fits all” approach to the upgrade process. Moving the data from a prior version of PeopleSoft to the new security model requires using current data in new ways. As the upgrade process creates the keys for the new security, much of the data is defaulted into tables where it may not belong. The result is a security system that will work, but it leaves a significant amount of cleanup work. Complete Story

Compliance

Due Diligence &

Guidance Information

We know how important it is to stay current with changing regulations, court cases, and industry trends. This recurring column, by Donna Manchester, Vice President Human Resources, is dedicated to keeping you up to date.

Human Resources

ADA: Is the Inability to Get Along with Others a Major Life Activity?

Do you consider the ability to interact or get along with others to be a “major life activity" within the meaning of ADA? If you said no, you disagree with the (New York) U.S. District Court, who found in favor of the plaintiff in Audrey Jacques vs. DiMarzio, Inc. Complete Story

Benefits

ERISA Short-Term Disability Benefits May Continue After Termination

An employee of Fenn Manufacturing Co. was receiving benefits under his employer's ERISA-covered short-term disability (STD) plan, which provided up to 26 weeks of benefits, when he was terminated for cause. Fenn stopped paying benefits as of the termination date. The employee filed suit, claiming that he was entitled to STD benefits for the remainder of the 26 weeks. Complete Story

Payroll

Terror Victim Benefits are Not Taxable

Under a new law called The Victims of Terrorism Tax Relief Act of 2001, certain death benefits that employers paid on behalf of victims of the September 11^th and the anthrax attacks will not be taxable to the recipients. Many of the over 300 employers who lost employees in the attacks paid to the survivors of those employees special benefits that would normally be taxable. Complete Story

This column is intended only to provide information and does not constitute advice. Please contact your attorney or other qualified professional for legal advice regarding your employment, benefits, and payroll issues.

4120 International Parkway

Suite 1150

Dallas, TX 75007

Phone: 972.250.4104

Fax: 972.250.6021

email: cdg@cdg-inc.com

website: www.cdg-inc.com

In the Spotlight

The American Heart Association is a nationally recognized organization with the mission of reducing disability and death from cardiovascular disease and stroke. Based in Dallas, the organization consists of 16 affiliates nationwide and supports 386 remote locations.

CDG conducted a strategic planning workshop for AHA to develop a strategic plan for AHA’s HR system initiatives prior to its PeopleSoft 8 upgrade. An HRMS strategic plan enables companies to make informed decisions about the time constraints, features and benefits, and related costs of the HR system implementation process. Complete Story