Category: HR Management & Compliance

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.

Is Veganism a Religion?

If you thought the Church of Body Modification was stretching the bounds of religious accommodation, now we’ve got veganism to contend with, at least in one courtroom. A recent case in Ohio shows how far religious accommodation may be heading, says BLR legal editor Joan Farrell. In the case, a customer service rep in a […]

New York City gets tough unemployment discrimination law

Over the veto of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York City will soon have what’s being called the nation’s toughest law against discrimination based on a job applicant’s employment status. The city council passed the law on March 13 despite Bloomberg’s veto. It will take effect in mid-June. Currently, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington, D.C., have […]

Yes, You Can Train in 10 Minutes!

All across the business world, long, meandering meetings are the most universally disparaged part of the day. However, some organizations have found success in beating the endless meeting … with mini-meetings they call “10-minute stand-ups.” Yesterday, we went over how the Washington State Department of Personnel (DOP), the Ritz Carlton Hotel, and Agile Software use […]

Required certification for FMLA/CFRA leave

FMLA and CFRA leave requirements have a lot of overlap, but there are some important distinctions for employers to be aware of. Some of these can be found in the area of medical certifications required for the employee to take the leave. For example, did you know that a California employer should not use the […]

Parental Leave Newest Addition to FMLA Family

Yesterday’s Advisor featured attorney Susan Shoenfeld’s summary of the changes in the new FMLA regulations; today, more detail on the new parental leave requirement under military exigency leave, plus an introduction to the all-HR-in-one website, HR.BLR.com. The Final FMLA rule makes four changes (or clarifications) to the listed qualifying exigencies, says Schoenfeld, Senior Legal Editor […]

Think There Are No Laws Against Bullying?

Special from SHRM’s Legal and Legislative Conference It’s true that there are no anti-bullying laws in the US, but that doesn’t mean that bullying can’t be the basis of a lawsuit, says attorney Allison West SPHR. West, who is principal, Employee Practices Specialists in Pacifica, CA delivered her suggestions for dealing with bullying in the […]

I-9 Forms: Correction Considerations for Employers

Do you conduct audits on your I-9 forms? Do you have a written policy in place on how to correct deficiencies or errors? It’s important that you do, as having a policy in place before starting to correct errors can ensure you are consistent in your treatment of employees. It can also allow you to […]

Pros and Cons to Hiring Star Employees

Some organizations view hiring star employees as a no-brainer: hiring top talent means higher performance and higher profits. Others may be wary: hiring star employees comes at a high price, and it may not be justified. Where does your organization stand? What are some of the pros and cons to recruiting and hiring star employees? […]

Criticism in store for Obama’s choice for DOL

President Barack Obama’s choice of Thomas E. Perez for secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor is likely to face tough questions during the process of confirmation by the Senate. If confirmed, Perez will replace Hilda L. Solis, who stepped down as labor secretary in January after serving in the post four years. Foes of […]