Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
From iconic on-screen couples to tangled webs of fictional workplace drama, office romances have long captured the public’s imagination. But these storylines reflect a very real dynamic that employers often face and must address. Romantic relationships in the workplace are common and complicated, often bringing with them issues like favoritism, conflicts of interest, and […]
Employee handbooks are meant to be a compliance cornerstone. Yet new research from Brightmine shows many organizations may be falling behind in keeping them current. Fewer than half (48%) of HR professionals surveyed feel very confident that their organization’s handbook accurately reflects all current employment law requirements that are applicable to their company. A handbook […]
All day long you give me the runaround When you say something here, You mean something there You give me the runaround Same thing yesterday, Same thing the day before from “Runaround” by Tulsa songwriter J. J. Cale Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), an employer should grant accommodations to employees with a disability, […]
In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has formalized and affirmed the legal standard for employment discrimination claims for nonminority groups under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. What Changed? Typically, in Title VII cases, employees must show they are members of a protected class, they were qualified for the job […]
Maryland is among the latest states to restrict noncompete agreements in employment contracts. A new state law, the Noncompete and Conflict of Interest Clauses for Veterinary and Health Care Professionals and Study of the Health Care Market, restricts the use of noncompete and conflict of interest agreements in certain employment contracts for Maryland veterinary and […]
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how companies find, evaluate, and hire talent, but it’s also raising red flags among regulators and courts. Two big developments in May 2025 show that HR teams must take a closer look at their hiring tools to avoid legal and compliance risks. Let’s break it down. What’s Happening in California? […]
In May 2025, the Trump administration’s U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published guidance saying that it would stop enforcing a Biden-era rule—one that had rescinded a rule created during the first Trump administration—on the factors distinguishing independent contractors from employees. Although the Biden-era rule remains “on the books” for now while the DOL considers replacing […]
In 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a rule banning most noncompete agreements nationwide. Although enforcement is currently stayed (paused) pending legal challenges, courts and legislatures continue to narrow or eliminate noncompete enforceability—prompting employers to reevaluate how they protect proprietary information and competitive advantage. In response, many employers are turning to trade secret law. […]
While an increasing number of employers are requiring their remote employees to return to the office, it’s safe to assume that some employees may continue to work remotely. For their employers, it’s important to remember that many employment laws are state-based and may vary by jurisdiction. Examples of employment issues that can be controlled by […]
Beginning on January 1, 2025, New York State’s amended Paid Sick Leave Law will require employers to provide New York employees with up to 20 hours of paid leave every year for “prenatal personal leave,” which is defined as “leave taken for the health care services received by an employee during their pregnancy or related […]