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What Gummy Vitamins Can Teach HR Pros About Workplace Policies

As I stared at the half-full 200-count bottle of gummy vitamins sitting in front of my computer monitor, I read a recent Time Magazine article that examined whether the supplements actually “work.” Unfortunately, the short answer is “no.” Fortunately, I didn’t let that stop me from figuring out how the vitamins can provide us with […]

joint employer

New Bill Latest Effort to Tackle Definition of Joint Employment

The definition of “joint employment” may be heading for another turnaround. Legislation introduced in Congress on July 27 takes aim at a 2015 National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decision that raised the ire of many in the business community, especially employers that work with franchisees, contractors, and staffing agencies.

Restaurant’s Mandatory Service Charge Wasn’t a Tip

In the current battle to hire and retain good workers, employers have developed creative ways to balance employees’ increased compensation expectations against the costs of running a business. In addition, restaurants using the tip credit have the extra administrative difficulties of making sure their tipped employees are being paid enough in tips to meet the […]

background

Tips for Keeping Background Checks Legal

Background checks can be an important part of the recruiting process. After all, employers do have some form of obligation to do enough due diligence to ensure they don’t hire someone negligently who poses an undue risk to the business or the people in it.

immigration

9th Circuit Upholds $300,000 Penalty for I-9 Violations

The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) requires employers to verify that their employees are legally authorized to work in the United States. It also prohibits employers from knowingly continuing to employ aliens who aren’t authorized to work. The INA calls for penalties of varying amounts for each violation, depending on the nature of the violation. Consequently, penalties can add up quickly when there are widespread violation

Answers to 13 Common Questions About New Federal Vaccine, Testing Mandates

When President Joe Biden recently announced a six-pronged strategy to contain COVID-19’s spread, one of the most notable measures was a vaccination and/or weekly testing mandate affecting employers and employees nationwide. We still don’t know many details, but here are answers to some of the most common questions we’ve received since the mandates were announced. […]

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 […]

diabetes

COVID-19: Comorbidities a Serious Concern for Employers

The world gets closer to a COVID-19 vaccine every day. However, research suggests that the coronavirus vaccine, like many others, could be less effective for obese adults. This is bad news for the 42.4% of Americans who fit that category.