Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released Notice 1036, updating the income-tax withholding tables for 2018. The new tables reflect changes made by the tax reform legislation enacted last month. The updated withholding information shows the new rates for employers to use during 2018.
by Steve Jones Q If an employee asks for time off for her religious beliefs, can I legally question her about her religion (e.g., what her religion is and why she needs off)? A Most likely, yes. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on religion. The Act requires employers […]
Sometimes employees just don’t get along, and employers know they need to intervene when harassing and even threatening behavior occurs on the job. But should the employer launch an investigation if coworkers trade harsh words after hours away from the workplace? That was a question put to a group of attorneys who focus on workplace […]
by Gilda Villaran As of March 15, many travelers were supposed to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before flying to Canada. However, according to a communication issued by Immigration Canada on March 3, while travelers are still expected to apply for an eTA (where one is required), the obligation to actually produce the eTA […]
Even if you are in the right when you file a lawsuit against a former employee who admittedly took your trade secrets, sometimes the reward is simply not worth the expense. Here, an employer had a former manager dead to rights in misappropriating trade secrets but still couldn’t get a jury to award a dime. […]
Aside from some movie-character sadist bosses, few, if any, employers enjoy firing anyone. Obviously, however, it has to be done from time to time.
Have you seen the news articles lately touting the success of a 4-day work week for a New Zealand company? They took a test group of employees and allowed them to work four standard work days, without increasing the length of the work day and without decreasing total compensation. They found that not only were […]
The past year has seen major disruption in nearly every aspect of our work lives, and that disruption was perhaps felt the most in HR departments. With complicated COVID-related reopening measures, furloughs and layoffs, facilitating communication, reevaluations of benefits, and the current rehiring process, HR professionals have needed to alter their strategies and adopt a […]
The COVID-19 pandemic, recent mass shootings, and current political climate have workers experiencing increased anxiety—at home and in the workplace. What role do HR professionals play in supporting employee mental health during these difficult times? How can HR professionals improve workers’ mental health? Are there mistakes they should try to avoid during the process? I […]
Employment attorneys are frequently left to clean up the mess after a difficult termination. But engaging with your employees in a professional and respectful manner can go a long way toward simplifying termination cases. The following article provides some hard-won advice on the do’s and don’ts of employee terminations.