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Strangers at the table: Employers may need to accept observers in collective bargaining

by David McDonald In Canada, collective agreements are generally accessible to the public. Canadian jurisdictions provide mechanisms to file collective agreements with government authorities, and it is not uncommon for the union or the employer to post their agreement on the web. However, the process of bargaining itself is private and typically carefully guarded by […]

One of the Best-Kept Secrets in Benefits: HSAs for Retirement  

According to new data from Conduent, 43% of eligible employees don’t participate in a health savings account (HSA). Fifty-seven percent of those who make an HSA contribution don’t capture the full benefit, with an average contribution of less than $500, well below the annual limit of $3,650 for individuals and $7,300 for families. The underutilization of HSAs […]

Putting Earned Wage Access in its Place: A Guide for Employers

In December 2023, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced plans to outline how consumer lending laws interact with earned wage access (EWA) programs. These programs have grown in popularity as a solution for employees living paycheck to paycheck, offering early access to earned wages and, in theory, helping to dodge financial penalties like late […]

Managing Alternative Coverage and COBRA Coverage in Uncertain Economic Times

We’ve all heard about the “Great Resignation” triggered by the post-COVID environment. Workers are deciding to voluntarily exit the workplace in search of other options. Separately, we have seen the news about a possible economic recession in the near future that could prompt employers to consider “reductions in force” (RIFs). Given the economic turbulence and […]

Discussing Equal Pay and the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team

In a recent episode of HR Works Podcast, I discussed pay inequality between the men’s and the women’s U.S. soccer teams with guests Tom Cunningham, Vice President of People at Pariveda and Charles Bendotti, Senior Vice President of People and Culture at Philip Morris International.

Empowering Our Veteran Workforce: 4 Ways Employers Can Support the Veteran Workforce

In a recent survey commissioned by the Harris Poll on behalf of the University of Phoenix, most U.S. military members (93%) agreed that mental health is as important as physical health, but a third of military members (33%) reported never seeking out professional counseling, despite the majority experiencing lack of sleep (69%) and anxiety (61%). […]

May we fire employee who doesn’t fit in?

by Robert P. Tinnin, Jr. Q I own a small software development company that has been phenomenally successful in the few short years we have been in business. I attribute our success in large measure to our employees, who are very tight-knit and cohesive. Nine of our 10 current employees are Anglo males between 35 […]

Ask the Expert: Impact of FMLA on Salary Threshold for Overtime Exemption

I have two questions regarding the salary threshold for exemption.  1) Can a rental discount for an employee who lives onsite at an apartment community managed by his employer count toward the salary threshold for overtime exemption? 2) If a salaried exempt employee takes Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave during the year, does […]

skills

Adapting Traditional Learning Techniques for the Hybrid Job Economy

In a tech-dominant world, companies now expect employees to possess the skills needed to harness the power of technologies in the workplace. Research into job postings and résumés has shown that jobs are becoming increasingly complex and call for a broader range of skill sets than what is traditionally required for them, leading to the […]