Like countless others today, I’m back from vacation  — and looking to dig out from the mail and e-mails that have built up, and the unread blog posts over the last 10 days.

Avoiding the temptation to just "delete all", here are a few of the blog posts I’ve starred (you ARE using Google Reader, right?) that are worth reading to figure out what you’ve been missing over the holidays.

• Jon Hyman, at Ohio Employer’s Law Blog, has a good post on some new rules by the EEOC regarding retiree health benefit packages.

Pursuant to a new Rule published yesterday by the EEOC, employers can take Medicare into account when structuring retiree health benefit packages without violating the age discrimination laws. The rule clarifies the long standing practice of most companies that provide retiree health benefits, by which they reduce their health insurance expenses for retired workers once they turn 65 and qualify for Medicare. In other words, employers can lawfully spend more on retirees under the age of 65 years than those over 65 without running afoul of age discrimination laws.

• What’s New in Employment Law has an interesting post about a 9th Circuit case about an employer that used hearing tests for certain truck drivers it employed.  The case discusses whether hearing is an essential function.  But more importantly, it appears to carve out a new defense under the ADA that seems to be a "business necessity" defense. 
• Evil HR Lady has a simple and straightforward post about diversity training and the pitfalls that such a training may lead to.  She then has some advice on how to treat employees.  Point 1? "People are Different." Point 2? "We should be polite to people–even those who look/talk/dress/act differently than we do."  Forget legal jargon; this is a good reminder that the best advice is often told in plain English.
• Workplace Horizons, has a noteworthy post about how the NLRB will be operating with only two members and how it plans to do so for the foreseeable future.  Workplace Prof had a simliar post with further thoughs on the subject too.
• Mark Toth, over at the always amusing Manpower Employment Law Blog has his thoughts on the Top 10 Cases of 2007.
• John Phillips, at The Word on Employment Law has a notable post about what employers should think about if they discovery child pornography on workplace computers. 
• Kris Dunn at the HR Captialist, spotted a year-end list of the some 20 HR articles of 2007.

As you can see, plenty of folks worked through the holidays to keep up on things. 

Now, if only everyday were a "Zero E-mail Friday".  

Best wishes in 2008.