Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Can you please advise me on the regulations for providing summary plan descriptions (SPDs) for our employees? Since we don’t have SPDs yet, should there be an urgency in getting them produced for distribution this year or can this be a project for 2016?
If Trump wins, one thing is certain: NLRB General Counsel (GC) Jennifer Abruzzo would be fired at once. Just as President Joe Biden sacked then-NLRB GC Peter Robb almost before the Inaugural Balls were over, Abruzzo would meet the same fate. Because the GC sets agency policy and decides what cases to pursue, the Board […]
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was enacted to help employees take leave for their own serious health conditions or to care for a close family member with a serious health condition. Although the intent of the law is good, abuse of FMLA does occur—and sometimes in some unique ways. Consider the case of […]
Remaining informed and aware of investing trends is one of the many duties that come with being an employer plan sponsor or serving on a plan’s investment committee. As average fund fees continue their slide from investors seeking lower-cost funds and price wars among some providers, it’s useful to understand what’s behind this trend. At […]
What is DSM-5? It is the new edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, released by the American Psychiatric Association on May 18, 2013. This is the first substantial update to the DSM since 1994, and it reorganizes the classification system and changes the names of some disorders to simplify diagnostics for practitioners. The DSM is primarily used by psychiatrists and other mental health professionals in diagnosing patients, but its influence extends to the courts and the development of employment law.
Millions of employees around the world have experienced the pressure to stay late at the office, get there early, or work through lunch instead of going out or to the lunchroom with coworkers. It’s a phenomenon known as “presenteeism,” and it refers to the idea that there’s value to an employer simply from being present […]
According to the Center for American Progress’s 2022 Survey, half of LGBTQIA+ adults reported experiencing some form of workplace discrimination or harassment in the past year because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or intersex status, including being fired or denied a promotion; having their hours cut; or experiencing verbal, physical, or sexual harassment. This […]
A recent study from Sage titled “The changing face of HR” found that HR professionals are increasingly burned out at work despite still being passionate about their jobs. In fact, 62% of HR leaders are considering leaving the field entirely, even though 57% say they love their jobs. How is this possible? Well, it’s interesting that […]
While not all companies allow furry four-legged friends in the workplace for various reasons (employees with allergies, facility leases, etc.), one in three Fortune 500 companies now offer as pet insurance as a voluntary benefit. “Since more than two-thirds of Americans own at least one pet, offering pet insurance will appeal to prospective pet lovers […]
Many companies institute various policies to promote employee safety. Some of these are for legal or regulatory reasons. For example, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has many rules and regulations companies must follow to avoid fines and other penalties.