Archives

Supporting Employees Through Infertility and Pregnancy Loss with Family-Forming Benefits

The period following the holidays and the start of a new year can be a time of reflection and planning. For individuals coping with infertility or pregnancy loss, it can also bring emotional challenges. Family-centered festivities from the holidays and conversations about children may linger, amplifying feelings of grief, isolation and frustration. These challenges, coupled […]

State of Michigan Provides Guidance on Earned Sick Time Act

With Michigan’s Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA) set to go into effect on February 21, 2025, the Michigan Labor and Economic Opportunity Agency (LEO) has issued frequently asked questions (FAQs) indicating how the state plans to interpret the new paid sick leave law to provide guidance to employers and employees. Here are some important concepts […]

HR Query: What Soccer Teaches About Leadership

Joan Peterson is passionate about three things: the work she does, her family, and soccer. How do those three things interconnect? Peterson explains it all when I sat down to talk with her about her passions and how they inform her approach to leadership development. Joan Peterson is the Vice President, Master Facilitator and Leadership […]

Shaping Workplace Culture: Lupe Martinez-Mujica’s HR Leadership at FirstService Residential 

Lupe Martinez-Mujica has spent her career shaping workplace culture through strategic HR leadership. As a professional whose early passion for sociology, psychology, and employment law evolved into a focus on fostering diverse, engaged teams, she is now driving meaningful change at FirstService Residential.  From Early HR Passion to Executive Leadership  Martinez-Mujica’s journey into HR leadership […]

Only 22% of Companies Want to Know About Applicant Failures

Job interviews are usually about an applicant making a case for why they’re a great asset to the organization and a great fit for the role. They’ll tout their past achievements, education, experience, and personal characteristics. But employers also have an interest in understanding an employee’s weaknesses and past failures. Of course, these are tidbits […]

Telework Myths Are Breaking HR Strategies in the Federal Workforce

With President Donald Trump signing an executive order directing federal agencies to eliminate telework, Republican leaders in Congress recently took aim at teleworking within the federal government, claiming that remote and hybrid arrangements create inefficiencies and bloat costs. However, these claims run counter to the data. For HR professionals, the debate over federal telework offers […]

Best Practices for Employee Handbook Revisions

With the turn of the new year and various state employment laws taking effect on January 1, 2025, many employers are revising their employee handbooks. In drafting and revising employee handbooks, they’re often faced with an important decision: Should they offer a minimalistic, bare-bones handbook; a lengthy and nearly exhaustive handbook; or something in the […]

New Data Highlights Challenges of Harnessing AI’s Potential

AI has been heralded as a game-changer for the workplace, offering unparalleled access to knowledge, increased efficiency, and automation of repetitive tasks. From streamlining workflows to enhancing decision-making, AI holds the potential to revolutionize productivity and innovation. Companies that effectively harness AI can gain a competitive edge, allowing employees to focus on higher-value, strategic work. […]

HR Query: Leadership and the Employee Experience

Last year, employee engagement in the US fell to its lowest level, with only 31% of employees reporting being engaged at work. As engagement directly affects employee satisfaction, productivity, and overall company success, it’s essential that leaders learn how to best support their workers. Karen Guziciki, HCI faculty member, reminds leaders that it’s okay to […]

Ask the Expert: You Have Questions About Remote Work? We Have Answers!

Question: Can remote-work policies from the COVID pandemic be used against a company trying to bring employees back into the office? Answer: In certain circumstances, yes. Recently, courts have allowed juries to decide if on-site work is essential when the employer couldn’t definitively demonstrate on-site work was required or when a previous policy allowed substantial […]