Author: Kate McGovern Tornone

‘No-brainer’ appointment: Lipnic to head EEOC

President Donald Trump has chosen Victoria A. Lipnic to serve as acting chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced on January 25. She will replace Jenny Yang as chair, but Democrats still will retain a majority on the commission for some time. Lipnic’s appointment was “a no-brainer,” says Jonathan Mook, a […]

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Use of hidden surveillance cameras in workplace comes with pros, cons

Surveillance cameras have become so common that people barely notice them even when they’re in plain sight. Cameras frequently hum at traffic signals, parking lots, stores, even offices and factory floors. They’re not always obvious, though. Employers may want to use hidden cameras to secretly monitor workers–especially if workers are suspected of misconduct and the […]

Republican ACA proposal poses challenges for multistate employers

A group of Republican senators has proposed a replacement bill for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that would allow states to choose whether to keep Obamacare’s provisions in place. Because employers’ requirements would depend on where employees work, compliance could be a real challenge for companies with operations in multiple states, according to the Society […]

How to Develop a Values-Driven Organization

Profits aside, what does your company value? If that’s a head-scratching question, it’s time to take stock in what truly drives your organization. Clearly defining your core values will have many positive benefits, including appealing to like-minded customers, helping guide internal decisions, and attracting and maintaining highly engaged employees.

Ensure your team is working together for a common goal

by Dan Oswald Our newly inaugurated president is in the midst of selecting the team he will work with to achieve his vision for our country. And while, in his case, many of those selections will require congressional approval, they are nonetheless his choices. It’s an interesting process to watch. Imagine recruiting and hiring your […]

Trump takes aim at ACA on first day in office

Following his inauguration on January 20, President Donald Trump signed his first round of Executive Orders, including one directing federal agencies to ease enforcement of some Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements. Trump told agencies to “waive, defer, grant exemptions from, or delay the implementation of”ACA provisions that impose fees or other burdens on a range […]

The power of habit and HR policies

At the start of a new year, many individuals set goals and resolutions, hoping to change bad habits or form new ones. Exercising, eating healthy, reading more books, learning something new, and spending more time with family or friends are all common resolutions.  But many of these well-intentioned goals and resolutions fall off days, weeks, […]

Taking the high road: Marijuana at work could trigger obligations to question

by Cory Sully While access to medical marijuana has increased in Canada over the last few years, the consumption of medical marijuana has arguably become less taboo with the new Trudeau government’s pledge to eventually legalize and regulate this substance. In the summer of 2016, the government made the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes […]

Supreme Court will consider class action waivers

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a trio of wage and hour cases involving arbitration agreements that require workers to waive their right to pursue employment claims as a group. In recent years, the validity of such waivers has divided federal appeals courts and drawn the attention of the National Labor Relations Board […]