Most Popular

English-Only Policies Are Presumptively Unlawful Under New FEHA Regs

California leads the United States in foreign-born and non-English- speaking residents. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, almost half of all Californians speak a language other than English at home. Nearly one-third of the state’s population is foreign-born (10 million people), which accounts for about a quarter of the foreign-born population in the […]

Top 5 Job Description Mistakes

Job descriptions—just the thought brings tears to your eyes. Yet job descriptions are central to hiring, compensation, and appraisal (not to mention avoiding lawsuits). Today, BLR editors reveal the top 5 mistakes managers make with job descriptions. One key to getting them done right is to give someone responsibility—and put it in his or her […]

Jobseekers’ Market? Maybe Not for Professionals Over 50

With the low unemployment rate and high demand for workers, jobseekers might think they have it made. People interested in fast-food or retail jobs are often quickly hired, but workers in other fields, especially those who are in their 50s or older and are seeking professions that require higher education and years of experience, often […]

leadership

Identifying Hidden Leadership Potential

Every company needs leaders, and senior managers should continuously be on the lookout for those with the potential to one day take on a leadership position within the company. Identifying leaders when there is an open leadership position is too late.

payroll

Payroll Tax Deferrals—What Should Employers Do?

Earlier this summer, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order directing Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin to defer the withholding, deposit, and payment of certain payroll taxes beginning September 1 through the end of 2020. The order left several important questions open and directed the Treasury to issue guidance to implement the order.

Ask the Expert: Can Time Increments Play a Role in Company PTO Policies?

Question: What’s the minimum amount of time we can require exempt employees to use their paid time off (PTO)? Under our benefits policy, a half day (four-hour deductions) for exempt employees is usually OK, and our nonexempt employees can take PTO one hour at a time, but could we require a similar two-hour increment for […]

Second-Guessing the Great Resignation: 4 Questions to Ask Before Leaving

It seems that everywhere you look lately, people are talking about the Great Resignation. Since April 2021, employees have been leaving their jobs in record numbers, with over 38 million workers calling it quits throughout the year. Initially prompted by COVID-19, employees’ search for better pay, growth opportunities, flexibility, and companies that are open to […]

immigration

How to Avoid Common Form I-9 Violations

Fines for knowingly hiring or continuing to employ unauthorized workers can reach as much as $16,000 per violation, while substantive and uncorrected technical violations can be as much as $1,100 per violation. Here are 4 important areas employers need to understand in order to avoid common Form I-9 violations.