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Employee Benefits in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed into law the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (the Act). The Act provides employers with a variety of tools to enhance their employee benefit offerings. In this article, we will focus on the most intriguing opportunities for change by employers. Telehealth Is HSA-Safe Health savings accounts (HSAs) have […]

Diversity Takes Many Forms: Making Progress Through Understanding and Inclusion

Successful diversity, equity and inclusion leadership requires the same kinds of leadership skills that make one successful in any corporate leadership role, whether that be operations, finance, marketing or anything else. But it also requires a solid understanding and knowledge of the underlying subject matter. Working in a relatively new area of corporate focus, DEI […]

appreciate

The 5 Ss of Effective Employee Appreciation

By Jennifer Carsen, J.D. Many HR professionals have spent a lot of time thinking about the best ways to express appreciation to employees. We here at BLR have, too, and I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s not about the big, expensive, flashy gestures. Sometimes simple is better. Straightforward. Solid.

innovate

Learn to Innovate, Lead, and Embrace Change

There has been a century of expected compliance by workers to do their jobs a certain way, so we are all expected to keep up! The new model for employee development will be a recognition that each person offers a set of special and different skills that can’t come through compliance with routines and standardized […]

The erosion of employers’ managerial rights

by Mikael Maher In a recent arbitration case, Tshiuetin Rail Transportation Inc. v. Steelworkers, Local 7065-75, the arbitrator, Bruno Leclerc, and the Superior Court of Quebec challenged a well-established principle in labor relations, which is that an employer retains managerial rights in the absence of limiting provisions in the collective agreement. In this case, the […]

Making Hybrid Work Successful: Strengthening Your Tech Stack

A recent survey shows that nearly seven in ten US workers prefer the option of a hybrid work model, meaning companies that are laser-focused on the Return-To-Work (RTO) movement without flexibility are losing out on top talent. Navigating this shifting work dynamic can be challenging, but today’s workplaces must evolve to meet the needs of […]

Fun Run

Litigation Value: Approximately $450,000 (depends on how much Meredith’s medical bills are) It is good to be back and last night’s episode was a great start for a promising season! When a manager runs over an employee with a company car on company property, it’s time to contact the finance department about setting aside a […]

EEOC

Age Discrimination Claims Will Continue to Be Analyzed Using a ‘But-For’ Standard

The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals (whose rulings apply to all Ohio employers) affirmed summary judgment (dismissal without a trial) in favor of an employer and held claims filed under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) must continue to be judged using a “but-for” standard.