Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
There are dozens of details to take care of in the day-to-day operation of your department and your company. We give you case studies, news updates, best practices and training tips that keep your organization fully in compliance with ever-changing employment law, and you fully aware of emerging HR trends.
Spectators could be excused for confusing a recent U.S. Supreme Court oral argument session with an episode of TLC’s What Not to Wear. On Nov. 4, the Court heard arguments in Sandifer v. U.S. Steel Corp.(No. 12-417) which focused on how to define “clothes” versus protective equipment and whether time spent donning those items is compensable. The […]
In a mixed motive case, the evidence shows that employer has taken adverse action for a combination of both legitimate and unlawful reasons. When a plaintiff in a Title VII case proves that a protected category played a motivating part in an employment decision, the defendant/employer may avoid a finding of liability only by proving by a preponderance of evidence that it would have made the same decision even if it had not taken the plaintiff's protected characteristic into account.
by Calvin L. Keith Veterans Day is coming up on November 11, and a new law in Oregon makes the day even more significant for veterans who want the day off. The 2013 Oregon Legislature passed a bill requiring employers to provide veterans with paid or unpaid time off on Veterans Day. “Veterans” include those […]
New concerns about data security on the health care reform exchanges are being raised by Republican lawmakers, who cite an internal agency memorandum that warned of inadequate testing on the eve of the exchanges’ Oct. 1 rollout. The security control assessment required by the Federal Information Security Management Act “was only partially completed” because the […]
Employers who ignore or miscalculate the “regular rate” make an easy, but costly, mistake. Here’s what the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) requirement is and how to make the calculation. What’s the Deal with the ‘Regular Rate’? First of all, overtime, at the rate of at least time and one half, must be paid on […]
by Tammy Binford Although the U.S. Senate voted in favor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) on November 7, final passage of the bill, which would prohibit employers from discriminating against employees and applicants based on their sexual orientation and gender identity, faces an obstacle in the House. The Senate voted 64-32 to pass the […]
FederalNewsRadio/WTOP Radio Special Correspondent Mike Causey cautions that a dangerous workplace incident—whether an act of violence or an act of nature—can happen anywhere or anytime. So, says the ex-Marine, it is just common sense that employees “take care of themselves” and not rely on their employer to give them everything they need to shelter in […]
Yesterday’s Advisor featured BLR® Senior Legal Editor and Attorney Susan Schoenfeld’s tips for complying with the new affirmative action requirements for veterans. Today, the rest of the story, plus an introduction to the best way to find problems before the feds do—the HR audit checklist. Here are some of the other important changes included in […]
Happy Veterans Day, readers, and here’s a look at the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs’ (OFCCP) new affirmative action requirements for veterans. Last August, the OFCCP announced a final rule that makes significant changes to the regulations implementing the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act, or VEVRAA. VEVRAA prohibits employment […]
Job descriptions are the glue that holds together organizational hierarchy and work processes. When they are well-written, job descriptions create tangible objectives and signify accountability. To keep their companies in compliance with federal and state employment laws, human resources professionals need to be certain that the essential functions of every job are clearly documented. When […]