Most Popular

Hiring: Can We Reject an Applicant with a Large Scar?

We have a delicate situation that comes up from time to time. We hire service representatives for work at our customer service desk. We want to be fair in our hiring, but last week we had someone with a large scar on her face apply. We’re concerned that our customers will be put off by […]

What To Expect (From the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act) When You’re Expecting

Since 1978, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA)—which amended Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964—has prohibited discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions. For 45 years, however, the landmark law fell short of specifically addressing a pregnant or postpartum employee’s need for special accommodations while working. Until now. A New Law […]

American Idol Back to Work 3 Days After Giving Birth? Can’t Demand or Deny It

American Idol alum Jordin Sparks walked the red carpet just three days after giving birth to her son and has done a slew of interviews discussing this new chapter of her life.  While Sparks is certainly a trooper for bouncing back so quickly after a major medical event and putting herself back into the celebrity […]

Interview

Can HR Rely on Workers Reporting Their Own Worth?

It is no secret that talent recruitment and retention is a costly process without any real guarantee of long-term employee commitment to a company. With employee turnover costing the U.S. $536 billion per year, is there a more proactive stance HR managers can take to better discover and address employee needs and recognize and reward […]

DOL’s Final Overtime Rules Coming Any Day Now

By BLR Legal Editor Susan Prince, JD Employers, get ready for a busy summer! Just when you are about to embark on your summer getaways, dreaming of sun and relaxation … you are probably going to have 60 days to make sure you are in compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) changes. Well, […]

Religious Discrimination: New Employer Obligations on Their Way

The title is a prediction, not a done deal. But no later than June 2023, I believe the U.S. Supreme Court will jettison a 46-year-old case that neutered an employer’s obligation to reasonably accommodate all aspects of an employee’s religious observance or practice. And what will the vote be? 9-0. Read on. How Did We […]

diabetes

Freshman 15: Work-from-Home Edition

If you aren’t familiar with the freshman 15, it’s the average amount of weight a college freshman gains in his or her first year. Many attribute the weight gain to a combination of unprecedented freedom and the availability of copious amounts of food. The work-from-home situation has some parallels.

New York

Is Needle-Phobic Pharmacist Eligible for a Reasonable Accommodation?

The 2nd Circuit—which covers Connecticut, New York, and Vermont—recently heard claims that a pharmacy violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) when it fired a pharmacist, whose fear of needles prevented him from administering immunizations. Did the pharmacist have a claim for disability discrimination?

How to Leverage AI as a Competitive Differentiator for Your Staffing Firm

A recent survey exploring the top trends in the staffing industry found that 38% of staffing leaders feel that decreased demand for staffing services is the top challenge facing HR firms in 2024, with the slump hindering business growth in a time of economic uncertainty. This concerning statistic, in conjunction with a global talent shortage—a […]

pay gap

HR Query: The 20-Year Reversal: Why the Gender Gap is Widening and How HR Can Fix It

After two decades of steady progress, the data is sending a warning shot. According to the Census Bureau, 2025 marked the second consecutive year the gender pay gap has widened. We sat down with Shelly MacConnell, Chief Strategy Officer at WIN, to discuss why the old playbook is failing and what “female-friendly” benefits actually look […]