Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Summer is right around the corner and for employers that hire minors or use college students as unpaid interns, you should take the time to review your hiring practices to make sure they are in compliance with federal law.
One of the main reasons employers offer antiharassment training is to show they’ve taken proactive steps to avoid harassment. It is also a legal requirement in many states and jurisdictions (and strongly encouraged at the federal level by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), as well).
Understanding overtime exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) can be one of the more challenging responsibilities HR professionals face. The complexity of exempt classifications—particularly for executive, administrative, and professional employees—requires diligence, especially as roles and salary thresholds evolve. On September 11, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling in Mayfield v. U.S. Department […]
The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in an era of more worker flexibility and more understanding shown to them by some employers. But as society returned to near normal, the empathetic trend waned. Many employees were commanded to come back to the office against their wishes, and millions joined the Great Resignation. Research shows some CEOs and […]
Can big data solve your HR problems? The important thing to remember is that the basis of big data is statistics, and you have to be careful interpreting results. So-called confounding variables may muddy the waters. For example: History can intervene. The measurement may have been accurate, but things changed during the measuring period and […]
by Mary B. Andersen, CEBS, ERPA, QPA ‘Lost in Space” was a popular television series in the 1960s. Sabotage by crew member Dr. Zachary Smith threw the ship off course and launched endless adventures. Today’s equivalent of Dr. Smith is an unauthorized computer hacker who breaks into data security systems and wreaks havoc on confidential […]
Laura Hanson’s journey in HR began not in a classroom but at a receptionist’s desk in a manufacturing firm. While responding to calls and screening résumés, fate intervened. A triple departure from the HR team propelled her into a generalist role, throwing her into the heart of the action. This “baptism by fire” proved to […]
On April 25, 2024, attorneys general from 17 states filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) seeking to stop the implementation of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act’s (PWFA) final regulations, which were published on April 19, 2024. The 17 states include Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, […]
A former police chief in Vermont was correctly classified as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act’s executive exemption — despite the fact that he frequently had to perform patrol work — because the bulk of his duties were still considered managerial, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled Aug. 10. In spite of his status as […]
by Tammy Binford It’s hard to think of anything more sacred to employers than the doctrine of employment at will. Employers have long been advised to make sure their employees are aware of their at-will status, meaning that unless employees have an employment contract, they can be terminated for good reason, bad reason, or no […]