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Whether Postpartum Leave is Shortened Depends on Annual FMLA Period

Q: Can a pregnant employee start her 14 weeks of Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave before delivery, and if so, will this shorten her amount of postpartum leave? The FMLA guarantees 12 weeks of unpaid leave within a 12-month period. For pregnant employees taking leave to bond with their newborn child, this period […]

FMLA Leave For Pregnancy Can Start Before The Baby Arrives

Q           Can a pregnant employee start their 12 workweeks of Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave before delivery, and if so, will this shorten their amount of postpartum leave? Yes, if eligible, a pregnant employee may take their FMLA leave before the delivery of their child. For context, the FMLA is the federal law that […]

To Copy or Not To Copy? Rethinking a Longstanding I-9 Compliance Practice

Since the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) was enacted in 1986, employers have been required to verify the identity and work authorization of every new hire using Form I-9. But one question has sparked ongoing debate: Should employers copy the documents that employees present during the I-9 process? Two Schools of Thought on I-9 […]

HRDA Frankly Speaking: Care for the Caregivers

Nearly 73% of the entire workforce is a caregiver. In the words of Paula Faris, award-winning journalist and author who hosted a conversation on the topic, “Investing in caregivers is investing in the workforce.” Faris was joined by Tina Beaty, Chief Branding & Marketing Officer for SHRM, Madeline Mitchell, USAToday reporter, and Phyllis Stewart Pires, Associate VP of Employee […]

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Is Your HR Team Listening Legally? Avoiding Compliance Risks in Call Monitoring 

HR professionals often implement call monitoring to support employee development, improve customer service, and ensure policy compliance. These are valid goals. But without a legal framework backing these efforts, the risk of unintentionally violating employee rights is high.  Even when intentions are good, execution still matters. Monitoring without a clear policy—or in ignorance of state […]

Faces of HR: The Human Behind the Human Experience—KeyAnna Schmiedl

Ever wonder who’s shaping the future of how we work? Meet KeyAnna Schmiedl, the powerhouse Chief Human Experience Officer (CHXO) at Workhuman. She’s not just a leader; she’s a visionary dedicated to making work, well, more human! What Does a Human Experience Officer Actually Do? As Workhuman’s CHXO, Schmeidl is at the helm of their people function, […]

SCOTUS Ruling on Title VII Discrimination Claims: Same Standard Applies to Majority and Minority Group Plaintiffs

On June 5, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, which, given the subject matter of the case, impacts employers nationwide. The Ames decision confirmed that all Title VII plaintiffs alleging employment discrimination – regardless of whether they belong to a majority or minority group – […]

The Gen Z Tech Training Myth: Why Digital Natives Need More Support Than You Think

It’s a common assumption in today’s workplace that younger employees, having grown up with smartphones and social media, will naturally adapt to new technology faster than their older colleagues.   But new data from the Yooz 2025 Workplace Tech Resistance report tells a different story—one that challenges these generational stereotypes.  The Surprising Data: Gen Z […]

HR Query: Degrees Out, Skills In—The Future of Hiring is Here

In today’s fast-changing job market, a big shift is happening: more companies are focusing on what talent can do rather than just what degrees they have. Big names like Tesla and Google are leading the way, no longer requiring four-year degrees for certain jobs. This week on HR Query, we’re joined by Heidi Barnett, President of Talent Acquisition […]

6 Reasons It Pays to Invest in Your Employees 

Every HR professional knows that employee retention should be one of your number one priorities. But with everything else on your plate, it can be incredibly hard to carve out the time to focus on it. Organizations are constantly seeking ways to gain a competitive edge when it comes to retention. While investments in technology, […]