Archives

Why Workplaces Feel Grumpier in 2024—and How to Turn Things Around

I’ve been fielding a lot of questions lately about some of the work I do with JAMS Pathways, a conflict resolution resource for workplaces, and the types of inquiries I’m receiving offer some insight into what’s happening in society.  Of course, given my background, people are asking about how to prevent and resolve conflict. It’s […]

Building High-Performance Teams

While generative AI (GenAI) has created significant disruption in corporate America, including in the labor market, there are some business necessities AI still can’t address, and teamwork is a big one. While humans aren’t capable of crunching data or churning out blog posts as quickly as GenAI, GenAI isn’t effective at teamwork. Indeed, even many […]

9th Circuit Rules Private Texts Aren’t Protected Speech

One of the nightmares of HR professionals is to be told about a workplace problem “privately as a friend.” Whether something is an informal chat between friends or public notice of a problem is very hard to determine. That was essentially the question in deciding whether a Rancho Cordova sheriff was engaging in protected speech […]

Job Seekers Confidence Drops to Lowest Level in Over Two Years

It may sound cynical to say that bad news for job seekers is good news for employers, but in many cases, that’s absolutely the truth. The labor market, like any market, is based on supply and demand. When demand is high and supply is low, prices (wages in the case of the labor market) tend […]

Employees Need More from Financial Wellness Programs

The rising cost of living is hurting more than employees’ wallets—it’s hurting their productivity. And employers are seeing the effects firsthand. ZayZoon’s recent 2024 State of Employee Financial Wellness Report found that while only 36% of employees reported that financial stress impacts their work performance, 63% of employers believed employees who struggle financially perform worse […]

Case Study: New Hampshire Legislature Passes Law Allowing Firearms in Employees’ Vehicles

Although the debate between those wanting to protect the right to possess firearms and those who advocate for stricter gun control is often thought of as a federal issue, gun laws are often a function of state and local laws. We draw your attention to this important issue because the New Hampshire House and Senate […]

The Importance of Compliance: HSA and FSA Tips and Reminders

It’s open enrollment season: time for HR professionals to help employees evaluate and make important decisions about their health and financial benefits. Among those choices are flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs), popular options that can play a central role in protecting the health and financial futures of employees. To make it […]

Boeing a Case Study in Toxic Culture and Poor Leadership

Once a darling of America’s high-tech engineering and manufacturing industry, aircraft manufacturer Boeing has faced a recent string of dangerous and high-profile failures. From door-plug failures and loose parts to FAA investigations, it’s been a rough 2024 for Boeing. So, what has happened to bring Boeing to such a low state of affairs? Some observers […]

Hospital Authorities Treat People But Are Not ‘People’ Themselves

In a recent decision, the California Supreme Court takes an in-depth look at legislative history to dissect whether a county hospital authority entity can be liable for meal and rest period violations under the labor code and whether they can be considered “persons” subject to California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) penalties. In short, they […]

Human Skills Continue to Be in High Demand Despite AI Growth

Time-saving technology has long been a double-edged sword for workers. While new tech can mean less work for humans, less work also often means fewer jobs as well. Artificial intelligence (AI) is developing as the next major technological disruption in the modern world. Tools like generative AI (GenAI) can complete many tasks once exclusively the […]