Category: HR Management & Compliance

There are dozens of details to take care of in the day-to-day operation of your department and your company. We give you case studies, news updates, best practices and training tips that keep your organization fully in compliance with ever-changing employment law, and you fully aware of emerging HR trends.

You Haven’t Changed a Bit!

As fully vaccinated late baby boomers, my wife and I have begun slowly widening our circles and reengaging in social activities. During trips to local restaurants, we’ve heard the phrase “you haven’t changed a bit” from acquaintances we haven’t seen for at least 15 months. While this phrase is a polite lie we tell each […]

HR Works Podcast: LGBTQ+ Discrimination Still a Major Struggle

Guests: Ella Slade, Global LGBTQ+ Leader, IBM and CV Viverito, Deputy Director of Global Programs & Stakeholder Engagement with Out & Equal Workplace Advocates As part of Pride Month, I wanted to tackle LGBTQ+ discrimination in the workplace. Discrimination against individuals of the LGBTQ+ community was codified as illegal just about a year ago, in […]

Sign on Dotted Line: Arbitration Agreement Enforceability Against Predecessor Company

The New Jersey Appellate Division recently vacated a September 2020 trial court order dismissing a former employee’s lawsuit and compelling him to arbitrate his Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA) claims against his former employer’s predecessor. In so doing, the appellate court found the trial court must first determine whether the arbitration agreement was binding on […]

How to Return to Physical Workspaces if We Don’t Reach Herd Immunity

COVID-19 has pitted health and safety against the well-being of people and organizations. Keeping communities safe has meant sacrificing so much, and the pains of the past year have been twofold: Businesses have been forced to close or become remote, and workers’ emotional well-being has been at risk.

Can a 17-Year-Old Sign to Authorize a Background Check?

Background checks have become a fairly standard component of the hiring process. Most employers perform some form of background screening, though it varies in terms of how in-depth it is and what is covered. This can not only help the employer with decision-making but also ensure the employer uncovers potential issues.

Employee, Spouse Blame Employer for COVID-19 Infection, but Lawsuit Fails

A federal court recently dismissed a lawsuit filed by an employee and his spouse attempting to hold his employer liable for both of them contracting COVID-19. The dismissal should bring comfort to employer anxiety over negligence lawsuits by employees and their family members seeking damages for possibly bringing a coronavirus infection home from the workplace.

remote work

Recommendations for Employers Looking to Transition Employees Back to the Office

With the COVID-19 vaccine now widely available in the United States to those who are eligible, the percentage of Americans getting vaccinated is rising. This development is causing employers across the country to reflect on whether to call their employees who have been working remotely due to the pandemic back into the workplace. Many employees […]

HR Works 5-Minute Friday: Belonging and the Employee Experience

Guest: Cassie Whitlock, Director of HR, BambooHR The pandemic really did force a lot of organizations to consider the employee experience in a way they had not before. I find that to be one of the best things to come out of the pandemic, and today’s guest agrees. I am pleased to share some of […]

marijuana

Virginians Will Be Lighting Their Joints on July 1

Starting July 1, Virginia will be the first state in the southern United States to allow the use of recreational marijuana. That’s because on April 21, at the close of this year’s General Assembly session, Governor Ralph Northam signed a historic marijuana legalization bill allowing adults to possess small amounts of pot. Although the original […]

The Pandemic Has Taken a Toll on Manager Wellbeing

Managers have often seen themselves as dispassionate observers of their employees, implementers of systems and protocols, and enforcers of time management—all in the name of productivity and efficiency. This past year proved a major challenge to all those systems, ongoing work assignments, ways of working, and job roles as the pandemic brought dramatic change at […]