Preparing the Workplace for Post-COVID
Everyone is anxious for COVID restrictions to be behind us. We’re craving our routines and want to be able to meet up with loved ones more often.
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Court Eviscerates Employees’ Suit Against Whole Foods, Amazon for Banning BLM Attire
Whole Foods employees wearing Black Lives Matter (BLM) masks and attire filed a class action lawsuit against the grocery company and Amazon after being prohibited from wearing the gear with the BLM messaging and disciplined for doing it anyway. They alleged race-based discrimination and retaliation claims. The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts […]
PRO Act’s Chances in Senate Doubtful, But It Still Airs Labor’s ‘Wish List’
Although the U.S. House of Representatives has passed the union-backed Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, the far-reaching bill faces long odds in the evenly divided Senate. Even without passage, though, the bill may be a boost to labor interests.
Rising Higher: Eliminating Performance Reviews
Gaylyn was an HR Works Podcast 5-Minute Friday guest, listen to that here. My personal opinion, for whatever that’s worth, is that performance reviews do more harm than good. Most people have different feedback needs, and memorializing their flaws in documentation can make otherwise excellent employees head for the door. I am not alone in […]
Are Cover Letters Still Valuable to Hiring Managers in 2021?
There’s no question that résumés remain critical pieces of the recruiting process. It’s arguable that they’ve become even more relevant in recent years, thanks to applicant tracking systems that parse their text to accelerate candidate screening. But what about cover letters? In the age of online recruiting, “text speak,” and short attention spans, do these […]
DOL Delays Regs, Withdraws Guidance Issued During Trump Administration’s Final Days
During the past several presidential transitions, it has become a trend for the incoming administration to repeal or delay many regulations and guidance documents issued in the waning days of the previous administration. The switch from the Trump administration to the Biden administration shows the trend has continued and likely will do so for the […]
Rethinking Your Friendly Reminder E-Mails
As we noted in a previous post, the COVID-19-triggered shift to remote work has moved conversations that once took place at the proverbial watercooler, in conference rooms, or by popping into a coworker’s workspace to virtual formats. Even when that format is a video call, much of the nuance of in-person communication is lost. This […]
Zoom and Meeting Inclusiveness
When people talk about inclusiveness in the workplace, the concept is often closely associated with diversity—ensuring that a company is inclusive of its diverse workforce. Diversity means ensuring there are diverse people at the table, while inclusiveness means giving everyone at the table a chance to be heard. Typically, inclusiveness is associated with race, gender, […]
Britain’s Harry and Meghan Dish the Dirt to Oprah: Tips for Handling Trash-Talking Ex-Employees
Blimey! Apparently, the British royals have their knickers in a twist over Prince Harry and Princess Meghan’s recent television interview with Oprah. The news of the interview has caused quite the kerfuffle across the pond, as the Sussexes revealed shocking royal secrets. Royal aides, who deem Harry and Meghan’s swipes a load of codswallop, hit […]
Addressing the Job-Stealing Robot Narrative
The concern that machines and robots will make certain jobs obsolete and leave countless workers without a job has been prevalent for years, dating back at least to the Industrial Revolution. While there have been jobs lost to automation, technology, and robotics, this doesn’t tell the whole story, and the real dynamic is more complex. […]