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Using Zoom Improperly Can Leave Trade Secret Protections at Risk

With many employees working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, employers have depended on Zoom or other web-based video conferencing tools to conduct meetings online. Users can choose to record sessions, collaborate on projects, and share or annotate on one another’s screens. Unfortunately, the process also can open the possibility of trade secret theft if […]

How HR Can Take Advantage of Its Family-Building Benefits

Family-building benefits are among the most sought-after benefits being offered in 2021. In our new work-from-home climate, COVID has not deterred employees from pursuing family-building but rather has created more demand on employers for this robust benefit. More than ever, the responsibility is on employers to create an environment conducive to the sustainability of  work/life […]

New Year

Welcome, 2021. Let’s Talk …

While watching college football over the holidays, I was treated to a humorous Match.com commercial titled “A Match Made in Hell.” The short plot went like this: Satan (a highly costumed actor portraying the lord of the damned) had gone on the site and filtered out “joy, happiness, toilet paper, and reason and met his […]

Maintaining Hiring Compliance on a Thin Budget

The COVID-19 pandemic has put hiring and talent management programs front and center, as many employees across nearly every industry have been impacted by remote work, furloughs, and layoffs. To stay afloat, many organizations are continually reshaping staffing plans and may need to make further budget adjustments as 2021 unfolds.

remote

Large Employers Extending Remote Work

Some of the nation’s largest employers are signaling a potential long-term—even permanent—continuation of remote work. To what extent will this impact the decisions and plans of other organizations?

Baby, It’s COVID Outside: Tips for Returning After Holidays

It’s just after the holiday season, when the kids came home from college, the Griswolds took vacation, and Santa Claus came to town. But for many, the most wonderful time of the year will have become a cause for concern. With COVID-19 cases on the rise and family gatherings inevitable, you may be worried the […]

procrastination

Addressing Employee Procrastination

The workforce is full of people with diverse working styles. Some are seemingly obsessed with getting ahead of the game and tackling assignments as soon as possible. Others tend to wait until the last minute.

Why More Companies Will Think of Benefit Plans as ‘Health Hubs’ in 2021

There’s no doubt that 2020 was a challenging year. As with other industries, we dealt with ensuring the continued health and safety of our employees and providing the ongoing service and support our customers have come to expect and appreciate during the COVID-19 pandemic. But, 2020 also gave Human Resources professionals a great opportunity to […]

The Unexpected Navy SEAL: A Lesson in Identifying Talent

Before I became a SEAL, I was a Recon Marine and scout sniper, having risen to the rank of sergeant. I was a skilled soldier and an experienced leader, and I thought I knew what it took to succeed in the military and Special Operations in particular.

Don’t Expect DOL to Let Up on Investigations in 2021

Aside from the personal and professional challenges 2020 presented (the COVID-19 pandemic, government shutdown orders, concerns about keeping employees safe, layoffs, remote working, homeschooling, and navigating the unknown), what stands out most to me in my practice—and had the biggest impact on my clients—was the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) continued uncompromising pursuit of investigations […]