Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
by Michelle Dougherty With the recent emphasis on the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) regarding employers’ affirmative duties to pregnant employees, it is important for employers to remember that they also have obligations when employees return to work after childbirth. Specifically, under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), employers have […]
by Emily Hobbs-Wright A Turkish-born Muslim teacher claimed that her school had a culture of racial and ethnic hostility. The U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals (whose decisions apply to Colorado employers) recently ruled that her complaints of national origin discrimination may move forward. This case offers several lessons on how to handle cultural differences […]
by Cassandra Lewis People crave recognition. According to a Gallup survey, the number one reason most Americans leave their jobs is that they don’t feel appreciated. It is human nature to crave that “thank you,” and it is our jobs as managers to ensure employees receive it. There are specific issues to keep in mind […]
by Katrina Messier While I can’t say that I didn’t see this layoff coming, I didn’t think it would happen as soon as it did. I was laid off October 31, 2015, from a job in the restaurant industry where I was the V.P. of Human Resources for more than 16 years. What I didn’t […]
North Carolina got itself a bit of attention recently when it enacted House Bill 2, which mandates that public restrooms be limited for use based on the individual’s “biological sex.” The effect of this bill was to take away from transgender citizens their ability to choose, based on their individual gender identities, which restroom they […]
From Dan Oswald: As a way to honor the individuals who have taught me critical life lessons about people and business, I’ve invited several to write guest columns to run in this space over the next few weeks. Today’s voice of experience is provided by a mentor whose business acumen and people skills have guided […]
by Kyla Stott-Jess and Claire Himsl In the face of an economic downturn, some employers across Canada are being forced to tighten their belts and make hard choices about workforce downsizing. However, what may initially begin as a cost-cutting exercise can quickly turn into a legal quagmire if the process is not executed properly and […]
Who doesn’t like a little fun at work? Breaking the monotony with some offsite activities, an office game day, or just a special lunch can provide a restorative break to help hard-working employees get ready to tackle the hard work that’s always waiting. Fun-at-work proponents tout the benefits of giving employees the chance to get […]
by Leslie Silverman Employers should be aware that the position statements they submit to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) are now far more likely to end up in the hands of the employees who filed those charges and their attorneys. The agency has instructed all of its 53 field offices to release respondents’ position […]
On April 4, the governors of New York and California signed measures that will culminate in a $15 minimum wage phased in over the next few years. Champions of the minimum wage increases say they are important to providing workers a living wage, but foes in both states predict job losses and business failures. New […]