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.

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 […]

hiring sign

The Benefit of (Some) Turnover

Employers, given their preference, would love to keep most employees around indefinitely—to have their top performers spend their entire careers with the company. Not only would that tenure demonstrate dedication and commitment to the company, but it would also reduce the time, effort, and cost of recruiting and onboarding new staff and help retain institutional […]

Self-Improvement to Cult Initiation: How Not to Lead a Training Session

You would hope employers know the difference between a training session and a cult initiation ritual, but you may be surprised. A Panda Express took trust building exercises and loyalty tests too far during a four-day “self-improvement” session that started with beratement and ended with employees in their underwear.

smiling worker

Striving to Excel at Any Job and Any Task

Almost everyone has had the experience on a job of just not being able to get motivated. Maybe the work itself is boring or unrewarding. Maybe the boss or coworkers are toxic. Or maybe the employee is just unhappy with the way his or her career has unfolded. This feeling of malaise isn’t just a […]

remote work

New Ways of Working: The Digital Workforce and Hybrid Work Styles

2020 was a rollercoaster year for businesses, full of unforeseen challenges that forced organizations to adapt quickly or face getting left behind. According to Sage’s 2021 Return to Growth Outlook Report, which surveyed finance and accounting leaders at growing businesses (ranging from 50-1,500 employees), more than one-in-three businesses say their digital transformation plans accelerated by […]