Author: Lin Grensing-Pophal, Contributing Editor

The Importance of Having a Remote Work Option

Perhaps the biggest silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic is that companies across the globe have been forced to adopt a remote work policy for staff who aren’t essential to performing work on-site. For millions of workers, this has meant the attainment of a long-standing goal to have the flexibility and freedom of working from […]

Court Upholds Arbitrator’s Reinstatement of Employee Fired for Positive Drug Test

A federal district court in Massachusetts recently issued a decision that serves as a good reminder to employers to review their policies related to employee drug or alcohol use both on and off duty and ensure they are consistently applied. While the case involved a unionized employer, even nonunion employers should review the decision because […]

3 Reasons You May Be Struggling with Recruitment

Having a hard time filling your job roles? You’re not alone. If it feels like all companies are hiring these days, it’s because they are! That means in order to attract top talent, your job description needs to stand out and your interview experience needs to be top notch. It’s frustrating to pour time, energy, […]

Reasonable Accommodation Not Always Employee’s Preferred Choice

A recent employer-friendly decision from the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals (which covers Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi) is a reminder to take disability accommodation requests seriously. Also, remember an accommodation can be reasonable even if it’s not the employee’s preferred choice. Facts In May 2016, Willis Towers Watson (WTW) hired Christian Jennings to work […]

HR’s Dirty Little Secret Spotlighted By Human Capital Disclosure Rules

When the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) amended its 10-K human capital management (HCM) disclosure requirement in 2020, the ostensible goal was to generate more insight into how companies approach, measure, and assess the contributions HCM makes to their overall strategy and performance. Put in more simple terms, how does a company’s talent and investment […]

What You Need to Know About Recruiting and Onboarding Accountants

Your vision: Consistently recruit and onboard accountants who match your expectations. Transforming your vision into a reality, however, remains an uphill climb. But with the right approach, you can quickly and easily recruit and onboard outstanding accountants. Your business is an industry leader. However, you may need more than your brand reputation to differentiate your […]

Want to Boost Diversity? Exec Sees Win-Win in Dropping Degree Requirements

Paris Wallace says he’s been an entrepreneur his whole life, and he’s passionate about lowering the barriers that keep others from the success he’s enjoyed. As CEO and cofounder of Ovia Health, a family health benefits platform based in Boston, he’s eager to hire smart, creative, innovative, capable people. But he’s quick to say they […]

Hackers Bribing Employees, Vendors to Deploy Ransomware

With ransomware attacks up by more than 150% in the first half of 2021, there seems to be no limit to the methods criminal hackers will use to deploy ransomware or otherwise cause cyber mayhem. Their latest trick: hiring your employees and vendors to help them. Employees Tempted with a Cut of the Haul Hackers […]

Trust and Empowerment: 2 Keys to Emerging Unscathed from the Great Resignation

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated a lot of trends, including the trend of people quitting their jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that nearly 4 million Americans quit their jobs in July—for the fourth month in a row. In the same month, job openings rose to a record high. According to a Microsoft survey […]

To What Extent Should Performance Appraisals Take COVID Into Consideration?

Performance reviews are a critical part of employee management. Unfortunately, they’re often given little attention by companies around the country. Even the best companies routinely limit formal performance reviews to once per year, with busy managers often scrambling to complete them at the last minute. This typical scenario fails to provide meaningful feedback to substantially […]