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Avoiding Age Discrimination in the Recruiting Process

Age discrimination often happens inadvertently. After all, most of us don’t set out to intentionally exclude older workers. We can rationally recognize that older workers are just as valuable as any other worker, and may often bring years (even decades) of experience and knowledge. Yet, age discrimination—both intentional and unintentional—still happens frequently during the recruiting […]

What are ‘Bespoke Perks’?

As millions of Americans continue to retire or otherwise opt out of participating in the workforce, companies are scrambling to secure a share of the best and brightest of those who remain. Clearly, continuing to offer the same compensation and perks in the midst of a fundamental realignment of the labor force won’t cut it. […]

protest

Groups Planning May 1 General Strike: Are You Prepared?

Aiming to build on recent “day without” protests, some labor unions and other organizations around the United States have begun formally announcing their plans for a coordinated “general strike” on May 1 and have threatened to boycott any businesses that stand in their way.

Gross Misconduct—Can You Deny COBRA?

Gross Misconduct Means No COBRA, But … Termination for gross misconduct is not a qualifying event under COBRA, so COBRA continuation coverage does not have to be offered to an employee and his or her spouse and dependent children if the employee was terminated for gross misconduct. Unfortunately, the term “gross misconduct” is not defined […]

FMLA Medical Certifications: When Can Employer Require a Second Opinion?

FMLA medical certifications can provoke questions if their validity is uncertain. But when can an FMLA medical certification be questioned to the point of requiring a second opinion? Is a manager’s hunch that the employee is lying enough? When Can an Employer Require a Second Opinion on an FMLA Medical Certification? Let’s say an employer […]

How to Reduce Presenteeism

Presenteeism refers to the situation in which employees are at work, but they are not as productive as they could be because they’re not feeling well—but they’re not feeling sick enough to take a day off, or they don’t have days off to take.

retirement

IRS Raises Several Annual Retirement Plan Limits for 2018

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) raised several annual threshold and benefit levels for 2018 when it announced them on October 19. Employers and retirement plan administrators can apply the new rates as they prepare their plans for next year and conduct nondiscrimination testing. Notice 2017-64 outlined the latest changes to cost-of-living adjustments for employee benefit […]

layoff

Layoff, Furlough Notices Not to Be Forgotten During COVID-19 Crisis

Just a few weeks ago, employers nationwide were struggling to fill positions during a time of record-low unemployment. But seemingly in the blink of an eye, the economic news has turned to temporary shutdowns, mass layoffs, and talk of a recession that could put some employers out of business permanently.

talent

How to Spot Talent During the Hiring Process

Human Resources managers have a tough task on their hands whenever there is a need to hire a new employee. The process of hiring new staff can be very frustrating and time-consuming for HR department personnel. But if you are trying to spot talent, it takes more time, resources, and scrutiny.

mentoring

Preparing for a Return to the Office

How prepared is your company for the post-COVID-19 world? We don’t want to convey false optimism, but we argue in this feature that it’s time to start thinking about a return to “normal” for your business. For a year now, the nation and the world have been in the throes of a global pandemic that […]