04/18/2018

When an employee requests time off because of something as serious as a cancer diagnosis, most of the time the person will be telling the truth about her situation. But as a recent case shows, if a manager has even an inkling that something is amiss, it pays to take a closer look.more

04/18/2018

At first glance, church members volunteering at their parish's buffet restaurant seems like it is on the up and up. But when it is discovered that these volunteers were coerced and threatened with religious consequences, the Department of Labor (DOL) gets involved.more

04/17/2018

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued frequently asked questions (FAQs) to provide guidance to employers relating to portions of the newly enacted Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 that created the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit.more

04/13/2018

On April 12, 2018, the United States Department of Labor (DOL) issued three opinion letters and a new fact sheet providing guidance on various wage and hour issues.more

04/13/2018

It is not surprising that a recent survey found 69% of full-time employees get distracted at work. The more interesting finding is that 70% of workers think their managers could help them focus better through training.more

04/11/2018

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (Calif., et al) just unanimously ruled that pay differences based on prior salaries are inherently discriminatory under the Equal Pay Act because those past salaries stemmed from gender bias.more

04/11/2018

More and more recruiters are communicating with talent through text messaging. It is faster than email and candidates appreciate being kept in the loop throughout the hiring process.more

04/06/2018

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires employers to pay overtime compensation to covered employees, but exempts from overtime numerous categories of workers. Traditionally, these exemptions have been construed narrowly against the employer asserting them. Not anymore.more

04/06/2018

Employers that use criminal record screening policies must continue to be vigilant about compliance with all applicable laws. A recent settlement by one of the nation's leading retailers reinforces this point.more

04/04/2018

In case you might have missed it, United announced to employees in early March a plan to replace its quarterly operational bonus and perfect-attendance program with a lottery program... on which United almost immediately decided to hit "the pause button."more

04/04/2018

Just because the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) gives employers the ability to initiate surveillance on employees they suspect of abusing their leave, it does not mean you should take such a drastic step.more

03/30/2018

The opioid crisis has invaded the majority of workplaces, and for human resources professionals, controlling this growing problem can seem like an impossible task.more

03/30/2018

If an employee is "aggressive, rude and disrespectful," you have a pretty good reason to fire them, right? But what if that behavior is cultural, and they claim discrimination?more

03/29/2018

Is it really discrimination if football players get preferential treatment over cheerleaders?more

03/29/2018

In recent years, cities, counties, and other local government bodies across the country have enacted ordinances increasing the minimum wage, granting paid and unpaid sick leave, placing restrictions on how employees are scheduled, and requiring employers to enter into "labor peace agreements" with unions.more

03/29/2018

Whether it is traffic or an alarm not going off, tardy employees always have an excuse. But sometimes, their reasons for being late are far more ridiculous.more

03/29/2018

Intermittent leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) can be difficult to navigate and not all intermittent leave requests are equal. Here is a look at some of the most common scenarios and how to handle them.more

03/23/2018

A recent case regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) shows that saying you are disabled and proving it in court are two very different things.more

03/21/2018

While the majority of industry experts expect the Department of Labor (DOL) to create a new overtime rule that sets the salary threshold somewhere in the $33K ballpark, there is at least one person who sees a scenario where employers will have to comply with the originally proposed $47K threshold. And there is good reason to take what she says very seriously.more

03/16/2018

A recent lawsuit taught managers what not to say as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) showed, once again, that a small comment can end up costing an employer big.more