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Staying on solid legal ground when seeking brain diversity in the workforce

The benefits of diversity in the workplace are nearly universally touted. Human resources professionals are eager to assemble teams representing a variety of races, ethnicities, genders, and ages. But now another kind of diversity is gaining recruiters’ attention: brain diversity.  A December 2014 article on the Fortune website reports that companies are beginning to seek […]

New Things to Learn About FMLA

By Susan Schoenfeld, JD Just when you thought you’d finished learning all you could about the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) releases some new material. Fortunately, BLR® Senior Legal Editor Susan Schoenfeld, JD, has the facts on the new poster and guidebook.

Want a Union Card with Your Latte? Labor Activity Starts Percolating at Starbucks

For some people, loyalty to a particular coffee brand rivals their devotion to a favorite college football team. Kathleen, my spouse, would crawl three miles over broken glass for her Starbucks Americano decaf. I favor QuikTrip and McDonald’s coffee. Within the last three months, employees at several Starbucks locations voted to unionize. Seem like isolated […]

It’s High Time to Review Your Drug Testing Policy

As the marijuana legalization and decriminalization trend continues throughout states across the nation (including with recent April 2022 action by the U.S. House of Representatives), now is a good time for all employers to review and update your drug testing policies.

Skills

Looking Beyond Skill Shortcomings

The concept of “hire for attitude, train for skill” might require a closer look. Certainly giving special attention to attitude seems reasonable, but you might want to think twice before you discount skills.

tips

Here’s What Employers Need to Know About the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed into law a nearly 900-page bill that includes several provisions that will affect private-sector employers, including increased tax deductions, changes to Medicare eligibility requirements, and increased challenges to immigration compliance. Bonus Depreciation and IRC Section 179 Expense Limit The new bill—formally entitled, “An Act to provide for the […]

How to Enhance the Employee Experience in 2023

Expressions like the Great Resignation and “quiet quitting” may not be buzzing as much as they were last year, but make no mistake: The United States is still experiencing an unprecedented employee-retention crisis. In 2022, a record 50.5 million Americans quit their jobs, leaving behind 11 million job openings. It’s going to take a while […]

5 Ways to Recruit Top Gen Z Talent

If you’re a hiring manager, you know hiring can be difficult. It’s not just about finding someone who meets the qualifications and can do the job; it’s about finding someone who will fit into your culture and your team. Your hiring strategy must account for the personalities and expectations of different generations. And if you’re […]

travel

How to Handle Spring Break Travel in a COVID-19 World

After being cooped up for nearly a year because of COVID-19, many employees may be looking to take spring break getaways in the coming months. As is the case with most issues involving the pandemic, however, the travel opportunity creates several employment law concerns and considerations for employers to navigate.