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Switching gears: Shifting to reverse can rev up workplace mentoring

Researchers report that the millennial generation now makes up the largest share of the U.S. workforce. To be sure, the baby boomer and Generation X contingents remain strong, but the sheer number of younger workers makes them a force to be reckoned with. Longtime workers may think their young colleagues have a lot to learn, […]

How far will DOJ extend ADA’s Title II and Title III requirements?

by Monna Lea Bryant, Robert Sniffen, and Jeff Slanker Retailers and businesses may soon need to begin preparing for a new public accommodations issue related to an altogether different kind of access barrier: websites. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is developing a plan to amend Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities […]

Beyond maternity leave: employers’ duties to returning mothers

by Michelle Dougherty With the recent emphasis on the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA)  regarding employers’ affirmative duties to pregnant employees, it is important for employers to remember that they also have obligations when employees return to work after childbirth. Specifically, under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), employers have […]

Muslim teacher may proceed with national origin harassment claim

by Emily Hobbs-Wright A Turkish-born Muslim teacher claimed that her school had a culture of racial and ethnic hostility. The U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals (whose decisions apply to Colorado employers) recently ruled that her complaints of national origin discrimination may move forward. This case offers several lessons on how to handle cultural differences […]

Paid Family Leave Program Passes in N.Y.

The 2016 budget bill (S.B. 6406C) signed into law on April 4 by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo includes a paid family leave program that will provide partially-paid leave to nearly every employee in the state. New York is the fourth state, following California,New Jersey and Rhode Island, to enact a paid family leave program administered as part of the state disability insurance program. New […]

FedEx Misclassification Settlement Moves Forward

A federal judge had granted conditional approval to a $226.5 million settlement that would resolve claims that FedEx misclassified its drivers as independent contractors. U.S. District Judge Edward M. Chen said his approval was only conditional because only about 77 percent of the 2,016 class members have filed claim forms, and because of disagreements about how […]

Why Do Many Employees Love Their Jobs? Location, Location, Location

We all know the adage, “Location is everything.” Training and research firm Leadership IQ® recently surveyed 3,478 employees using a 10-question online test called “Is Your Personality Suited to Working Remotely or in the Office?” The results of where employees want to work was a rousing endorsement of … not in the office!

Don’t Let Fear of Failure Stop You from Taking Risks

I guess we’re all afraid of something. When we were kids, we might have been afraid of the dark or monsters under the bed. As adults, those fears often seem bigger or more real. We may have a fear of heights, the outdoors, or even failure.

Recognizing your employees: What’s appropriate?

by Cassandra Lewis People crave recognition. According to a Gallup survey, the number one reason most Americans leave their jobs is that they don’t feel appreciated. It is human nature to crave that “thank you,” and it is our jobs as managers to ensure employees receive it. There are specific issues to keep in mind […]