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harassment

6th Circuit Sets Boundaries for Hostile Work Environment Claims

The 6th Circuit (which covers Michigan and Ohio employers) recently provided employers with fresh guidance on what workplace actions may be considered “based on sex” and how severe and frequent the circumstances must be to create liability for a hostile work environment claim. Facts Nicole Massey began working for the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department […]

Understanding the Definition of Burnout

Everyone in the working world has probably heard the term “burned out.” The term is often used even in nonemployment settings, such as by students in higher education feeling burned out by intense studies. Being burned out is generally considered negative, but there isn’t really a precise definition of the term. Defining Burnout “We tend […]

Making the Smart Business Case for DEI

Imagine that a company is launching an ambitious IT initiative promising great benefits. The initiative will require behavior change, in some cases significant, from a large number of staff, including those in people management and leadership positions. Senior leaders are on record supporting the initiative with statements like “successful IT is critical to organizational success […]

Women as Fractional Executives

Because the impact of COVID-19 will be felt long term, many companies are being forced to revisit their hiring practices while simultaneously scrambling to pivot and redesign their products or services to respond to shifting customer needs. This constant shift and changing environment influence both company strategy and leadership requirements in an ever-changing and unpredictable […]

Facebook

How to Address Ongoing COVID-19 Issues When Employees Declare, ‘But, Facebook Said . . .’

We all know neither Google nor Facebook has a legal degree, but that doesn’t stop your employees from acting as if the social media platforms do. More than one employee has probably pushed back on a policy by saying, “I read on Facebook . . .” or “I Googled [such and such], and you are […]

What Has the Pandemic Taught Us About Crisis Management?

The pandemic has changed the business landscape as we know it. Perhaps one of the biggest lessons it has taught us is how to manage during a crisis. During these past 12 to 14 months, we have seen some organizations succeed, as they were able to pivot their business models and mitigate internal risk, while […]

benefits

Recruiting with a Well-Balanced Benefit Offering

When job candidates consider which position is best for them, benefits can be the factor that tips them from one company to another. As an indirect form of compensation, benefits fuel their quality of life. The responsibility of any good company is to provide fair, competitive, and livable benefit options. Therefore, it’s crucial that companies […]

NLRB

New Biden Nominee Is First Step Toward Democrats Gaining NLRB Majority

President Joe Biden’s nomination of Gwynne A. Wilcox for the vacant seat on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) will add a second Democrat to the Board provided the New York attorney who represents union interests is confirmed by the Senate. Even if confirmed, though, the Board will continue to have a Republican majority for […]

Poor Firing Practices Can Lead to Poor Outcomes, Including Violence

An HR person was firing a supervisor, who then said, “I have a knife in my pocket and a gun in my shoe. And if you weren’t who you are, I’d be using it right now.” That terrifying encounter comes with a very important lesson: You never know how someone will react when fired. If […]

Vaccine PTO Credit

As the vaccine rollout continues across the United States, employers are figuring out their employees’ needs. Some employers have opted to offer incentives for employees to get vaccinated, noting that having a vaccinated workforce can help reduce risks of COVID spread and absences as a result. Others have taken a hands-off approach and are allowing […]