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.

Lack of Secrecy Dooms Employer’s Suit to Stop Former Sales Reps’ Use of Customer Lists

The Illinois Trade Secrets Act (ITSA) prohibits misappropriation of trade secrets and allows recovery of attorneys’ fees in suits to enforce the Act. A recent decision by the Appellate Court of Illinois is a cautionary tale for employers wanting to protect customer lists and other information.

Retail

What Does the COVID-Fueled Surge in Online Retail Mean for In-Store Employees?

The shift from brick-and-mortar to online retail has been in the works for years, well before anyone had even heard of COVID-19. Online giants like Amazon have revolutionized the way consumers shop and fundamentally changed the economics of retail, allowing sellers to reach geographically diverse markets without a costly physical footprint. Added Pressures Challenge Brick-and-Mortar […]

How Organizations Can Recover from the Pandemic’s Impact on Pay Equity and Transparency

The gender pay gap has taken a hit during the pandemic, with economists predicting it may take nearly 20 years to recover to pre-pandemic levels of equality. At the same time, the workplace has been completely transformed, likely for good, with changes resulting from an overnight switch to remote work and fluctuating economic uncertainty.

training

Pre- and Postshift Work Ignites Fire for Sprinkler Company

When employees work on client jobsites or at remote locations, it may be tempting to pay them based on their scheduled hours instead of tracking their specific hours worked. But if they perform work before or after their scheduled shifts, which includes tasks such as loading and unloading tools, then they need to be paid […]

Protecting Employee Psychological Safety Amid Online Harassment

Employee psychological safety, a vital factor in any organization’s productivity, is increasingly under threat. With a recent Boston University study showing that cases of depression and anxiety went up by 300% last year, employees have never been at greater risk of burnout. However, while much of this recent wave of adverse mental health is due […]

Distributed Workforces Can Create a Strategic Advantage or Compliance Nightmare

It might seem counterintuitive to think your employees have become more mobile in a time when most of us have been stuck at home for days on end. But in reality, the number and types of employees potentially crossing borders, both local and international, have increased exponentially. The shift to remote work brought on by […]

expectations

How to Maximize the Impact of Performance Appraisals

Many companies struggle with performance reviews. Modern performance appraisal methods typically consist of scheduled interviews, compensation discussions, and self-evaluation. When necessary, reviewers also offer ways for underperforming employees to improve.

Update Handbook, Policies to Include Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

With the Supreme Court’s ruling on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 regarding gender identification, can we leave the Title VII disclaimer in our company handbook and applications as is? Or does the wording need to be adjusted to specifically state “sexual orientation” and “transgender status”?