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Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots—or generative AI—have rapidly transitioned from science fiction to trendy novelties to genuinely useful tools within a few short decades. Today, AI chatbots have become ubiquitous in our homes, the businesses we frequent, and countless other aspects of daily life. Professionals across various industries are exploring how AI chatbots can simplify their […]
Before March 2020, courts frequently rejected claims by workers who said they should be allowed to work from home as an accommodation for a disability. Judges routinely concluded that on-site attendance—coming into the physical workplace—was an “essential job function” and that working from home wasn’t a “reasonable accommodation” that employers had a duty to offer […]
Think back to the beginning of the pandemic. Parents took on roles as teachers, caretakers, and much more in addition to their full-time jobs. Furthermore, countless articles suggest that women took on the bulk of those responsibilities, and, despite the additional duties in and out of the home, industry data still indicates that women earn […]
Two new laws strengthen protections for pregnant and nursing employees in the workplace: the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (PUMP). In this week’s HR Query, we’re highlighting what you need to know to make sure organizations stay compliant. The PWFA took effect June 27, 2023, […]
One of the most important ways management can communicate with employees is through official employee evaluations. It’s easy to give employees kudos on a job well done after they’ve turned in a big project or casually bring up an area you’d like to see improvement in. It’s easy to feel like you have a grasp […]
“We’re being forced back to the office.” “I literally fell asleep during training.” “AI is probably going to take my job.” These are all recent quotes from people close to me. Of course, you probably don’t need to chat with my friends and family to hear similar sentiments. A lot of workers are saying these […]
One of the keys to developing an effective benefits package is recognizing that employees always have to be treated as unique individuals. This has become even more important in recent years as employees increasingly demand flexibility and companies prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Generic benefits often fail to meet the needs of diverse workforces, […]
What a difference a few months make! Starting in early 2021 and spurred by the emergence and rapid spread of COVID-19, piled on top of long-standing grievances, the Great Resignation peaked in mid-2022. While resignations have tapered off in 2023, workers’ leverage in the employment relationship didn’t immediately follow suit. The second half of 2022 […]
The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in an era of more worker flexibility and more understanding shown to them by some employers. But as society returned to near normal, the empathetic trend waned. Many employees were commanded to come back to the office against their wishes, and millions joined the Great Resignation. Research shows some CEOs and […]
On June 20, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals (whose rulings apply to all Texas employers) delivered a blow to advocates of LGBTQ rights in the workplace when it sided with a self-described Christian business whose policies discriminated against gays. The lesson: Not all discrimination is unlawful discrimination. Discriminatory Policies Braidwood Management manages various […]