Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Many cases have recently challenged the technical content in various employer-provided COBRA notices. The premise of these lawsuits has been that even minor deviations from COBRA regulations from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) should make a plan administrator liable for penalties even if the notices otherwise included comprehensive COBRA information. Certainly, plan administrators should […]
For those of you needing a good refresher on your obligations to employees who take leave to serve in the armed forces, the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals recently decided a case highlighting certain circumstances when you may need to pay them for that time.
Although the Paycheck Fairness Act has passed the U.S. House, its fate in the Senate is doubtful. But employers are being advised to examine their pay practices anyway. The Act passed the House on a 217-210 vote on April 15, with one Republican joining the Democratic majority in voting for the bill. The purpose of […]
In a recent article, we looked at the pros and cons of letting soon-to-be-departing employees work the duration of their notice period or whether it’s better to cut ties quickly. Of special concern to many HR managers is whether waiving the notice period can somehow be considered discriminatory. Coincidentally, the Iowa Court of Appeals just […]
The ability to work remotely had been a dream for countless Americans before the pandemic-driven shift to remote work for companies across the country. But that shift was more sudden and under much more stressful conditions than most newly remote employees likely envisioned when they dreamed of setting up shop in a home office. Moreover, […]
Gianna was an HR Works Podcast 5-Minute Friday guest, listen to that here. Communicating benefits to your employees is a critical component of any employee benefit strategy. Today’s “Faces of HR” guest discusses how she approaches these communications, including via benefits advocates—that is, people who use certain benefits who share their experiences as a model […]
The overall unemployment rate fell to 6.2% in February—its lowest point since April of last year. While that number does not tell the whole story, it does indicate that some industries have begun massive hiring undertakings to get back to their pre-COVID levels. Hopefully, with the increasing vaccine rollout, others are soon to follow.
When you hire a new employee, it’s usually second nature to complete the I-9 process. The I-9 (employment eligibility) process is fairly straightforward, and employers must complete it in a timely manner. Employees complete Section 1 either before they start or on the day they begin employment, and the employer reviews the documents they provide […]
The Illinois Trade Secrets Act (ITSA) prohibits misappropriation of trade secrets and allows recovery of attorneys’ fees in suits to enforce the Act. A recent decision by the Appellate Court of Illinois is a cautionary tale for employers wanting to protect customer lists and other information.
The shift from brick-and-mortar to online retail has been in the works for years, well before anyone had even heard of COVID-19. Online giants like Amazon have revolutionized the way consumers shop and fundamentally changed the economics of retail, allowing sellers to reach geographically diverse markets without a costly physical footprint. Added Pressures Challenge Brick-and-Mortar […]