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Furloughed vs. Fired

By the time you read this article, you have probably already been personally affected by the economic ramifications of the coronavirus. Many organizations have already begun rounds of terminations. Others have opted for mandatory furloughs for employees. Still others have opted for some combination of the above, along with other measures, to keep them afloat […]

The Virtual Work Space: What Are the Benefits and Risks?

Remote work, virtual office, telecommute—more and more employers are permitting employees to spend their days in a nontraditional work space, including giving them the ability to work from a remote office, a home office, or even the local coffee shop.

Gung Ho! Turn On People in Any Organization

Sarah Hulsey, PHR, reviews the book Gung Ho! Turn On the People in Any Organization by Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles, finding it easy to read but more appropriate for a novice HR practitioner than the seasoned professional. I just finished reading Gung Ho! Turn On the People in Any Organization by Ken Blanchard and […]

The Intersection of COBRA and State ‘Mini-COBRA’ Laws

Nearly all states have enacted some type of healthcare continuation coverage law (sometimes referred to colloquially as a “mini-COBRA” statute) that is similar to the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) or that supplements the federal requirements. Many of these laws predate federal COBRA but remain in effect after COBRA became law. This column […]

PTO Plans vs. Traditional: Plusses and Pitfalls

Absences, like terminations, can be voluntary or involuntary; however, unlike terminations the distinction between voluntary and involuntary absences is not typically determined by who initiates the absence, says Hagan, who is a partner in the Dallas office of Sarles & Ouimet, LLP. He made his suggestions at a recent BLR webinar. Involuntary absences are employee […]

Not Just Little Words: Gender Pronouns Demanding Attention in the Workplace

They’re showing up in e-mail signatures and personal introductions—a quick listing of pronouns such as she/her/hers or they/them. Those small words sprinkled in conversation and written communication to take the place of the seemingly more important nouns is gaining in importance as employers address gender identity in the workplace.

recruitment

Recruiting and the Effects of Low Unemployment

Unemployment rates in July 2019 remain significantly low—3.7%. These rates of unemployment are generally presented as great news, but for employers struggling to fill vacancies, the news is decidedly less rosy.

age

Generational Differences Offer Unique Opportunities for Employers

Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials, and Gen Zs, oh my! The workplace has become a “melting pot” of diverse workers from all different age groups, and though some may fear a disconnect among workers, new research finds this is not the case.

Organizations Have Needs, Too—A Hierarchy for HR Professionals

By Amanda C. Richards, MS, MA Over the years, theories of human motivation originally put forward by psychologists such as Abraham Maslow have become an integral part of the body of HR knowledge. Today, few would dispute the importance of motivating employees to achieve performance results. We generally accept as fact that the better you […]