Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
by Michael E. Barnsback Jonathan Mook (one of our intrepid Virginia Employment Law Letter editors) and I recently taught a Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Master Class. As with all of our FMLA classes, the major concern among the participants was how to curb abuse and prevent claims. One of the recent cases we […]
Leave policy administration under the FMLA and the ADA presents numerous challenges to employers. Following is a “Do” and “Do Not” list based on the outcomes of 10 interference and retaliation claims by aggrieved employees that the courts have heard in the last five months. Do see if short-term disability benefits are granted or denied to […]
Does your organization use the terms “recruiting” and “talent acquisition” interchangeably? Some do. But these terms actually refer to different components of the process of bringing new people into an organization. Let’s take a close look at each.
Suppose your company is undergoing a merger, and employees are offered a bonus for promising to stay on for a certain period of time—perhaps three or six months—during the rocky transition period. Do you have to pay the full bonus to an employee who goes out on family leave for some of that period? A […]
“Work-life balance” is one of the most popular HR buzz phrases. Yet until a few years ago, work-life concerns were relatively unheard of. Nontraditional workplace and scheduling alternatives like working from home were considered a perk available to a fortunate few or as a temporary accommodation for a stressed-out employee. Employer programs like the flexible […]
Competition for talent is fierce. Unemployment rates hover near historic lows around the world, new technologies are raising the demand for new skills, and older workers are retiring at a rapid pace. As a result, employers need every advantage they can gain in competing for workers, and that includes protecting the talent they already have.
The traditional image of workplace communication, centered around the water cooler, is rapidly evolving. As Reggie Willis, Chief Diversity Officer at Ally Financial, recently highlighted at SPARK HR 2025, nearly half of employees now prefer digital communication, even when physically close. This shift, amplified by generational differences, presents both challenges and opportunities for HR professionals. […]
Though the following case is still in its infancy, it tees up several common concerns in employment litigation. A new supervisor arrives on the scene and starts pointing out performance problems for the first time (calling into question the veracity of the critique). The employee goes out on leave for medical conditions. The employer decides […]
Meet Valarie Arismendez, SVP of People at Hello Heart. The digital therapeutics company focuses exclusively on heart disease, partnering with employer organizations to provide a connected mobile app that works alongside an employer’s benefits ecosystem. The app’s technology uses AI, behavioral science, and personalized digital coaching to drive healthy lifestyle changes. In her role as […]
With the #MeToo movement continuing to gain steam, an increase in the number of sexual harassment claims made to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) might be expected. And although the EEOC chair says that hasn’t been the case, at least slow change may be on the way.