Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
I’m no astronomy buff, but recent headlines about black holes, star collisions, and ripples in space and time grabbed my attention. (In case you missed it, scientists believe they’ve found evidence of a black hole swallowing up a dead star, which occurred about 900 million years ago.) However, this news got me thinking about a […]
Even if an individual employee complies with the dress code, can she be asked to change clothes because she is too distractingly curvaceous? Can she be terminated for inappropriate social media activity, when similarly situated males were not? Was she terminated because she complained about discrimination and harassment, or because she posted risqué pictures while […]
We’re a fairly small company, so good working relationships are key for us. I think family entanglements in the workplace complicate things; can I legally impose a “no-spouse” rule? — Anonymous
The volatility of 2017 further surfaced a number of longstanding and important issues, like racial and gender equality and diversity of thought in the workplace. While these issues aren’t new, the political climate created an environment where we all proactively address diversity and inclusion more frequently, bringing it to the forefront of workplace conversations, values […]
While remote and hybrid work have certainly been helping to improve work-life balance for many workers, the Great Resignation is still in full swing. Why? According to research, over a third of full-time respondents across a variety of industries said they want remote work options from their existing employers. However, this notably trailed other areas including […]
Have you ever tried to discipline an employee for workplace misconduct only to hear for the first time that his disability caused the misconduct? Did you then wonder how you should proceed? If that has ever happened to you, then the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) recent guidance, “The Americans with Disabilities Act [ADA]: Applying […]
Can you require an annual physical? An alcohol test? A prescription list? Generally, no, no, and no. These and other tricky ADA questions are answered in EEOC’s Enforcement Guidance on Disability-Related Inquiries and Medical Examinations. First of all, remember that there is a difference between applicants and employees, and the rules concerning disability-related inquiries and […]
2020: What an emotional rollercoaster. The ongoing pandemic and civil unrest have combined to create a markedly large number of highs and lows for everyone, most particularly for minority communities. Not to make light of this serious issue, but the current environment does have a silver lining: The events of this year have thankfully pushed […]
Q I am an HR manager. My company just received notice of a charge of discrimination from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) along with a request for information (RFI) seeking sensitive personnel data about several other employees at the company. Can you advise me about the best way to respond?
Yesterday’s Advisor featured attorney Jonathan Segal’s suggestions for anti-harassment training; today, his 5 R’s for managers, plus an introduction to the popular 350-prewritten-policy program, SmartPolicies. Segal, who is one of SHRM’s most popular speakers, is a partner in the Philadelphia office of law firm Duane Morris LLP. His remarks came at the SHRM Annual Conference […]