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5 Steps to Improve Employee Engagement

High levels of employee engagement can translate to many competitive advantages, including increased customer satisfaction.

Managing Employee Leave Requires Care, Consistency, and Awareness

Employee leave management has become an increasingly complex aspect of human resources, requiring a solid understanding of intersecting federal laws and company policies. From accommodating medical needs to maintaining operational continuity, employers must navigate leave issues with care, consistency, and legal awareness. Read on for a high-level overview of key leave laws and best practices […]

‘Willful’ Violations under FMLA Clarified

by Alyssa Yatsko Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), an employee has two years from the date of an FMLA violation to file a lawsuit against his employer. If the violation was “willful,” however, the employee has three years to file the lawsuit. Up until now, the Tenth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals […]

FMLA Status No Protection against Firing for Poor Performance

An employer did not engage in discrimination under the Family and Medical Leave Act when it fired an employee for performance issues, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held, at a time when the employee also was using intermittent FMLA leave. The court noted that the company never wavered from its claim that it […]

U.S. Department of Labor Implements New Independent Contractor Rule

On January 10, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)published a new final rule revising its guidance on independent contractor classifications under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Effective March 11, 2024, the final rule rescinded a rule from 2021 and implemented a new test for determining whether a worker is an employee or an […]

The Impact of Excessive Screen Time and How to Support Better Working Habits

It’s no surprise people are spending more time on screens. In fact, millions of Americans are exposed to excessive screen time every day (7+ hours), particularly those who work in office jobs. While technology has many benefits, spending prolonged periods on computers and other digital devices requires the eyes to work harder up close, and […]

onboarding

3 Long-Lasting Impacts of Effective Onboarding

If you’re approaching onboarding as a quick way to get forms signed and mandatory trainings completed, you’re missing out on a boatload of benefits. Sure, there are operational tasks that have to be completed when a new employee starts. But a thoughtful onboarding program can provide so much more. Effective onboarding can deliver results that […]

Soft skills

Training for Soft Skills 101

When it comes to employee training, it’s important to have a clear idea of what trainees are expected to gain from the training process. This could include specific skills—how to operate a forklift, how to complete the monthly accounting checkout, etc.—but it can, and should, also encourage the development of what some would call soft […]

Cash Balance Plans Get More IRS Guidance on Interest Crediting Rates

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued guidance recently on how to change interest crediting rates in a cash balance (CB) plan. The Issue Snapshot posted on the IRS website on May 31 analyzes some of the implications of amending a CB plan to actually or potentially decrease the interest crediting rate.