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Is Requiring Single Parent to Work Night Shift Family Status Discrimination?

by Ralph Nero and Ida Martin Can an employer require a single parent to start occasionally working the night shift? A recent board of arbitration decision out of Alberta answered — yes. This Alberta decision is the latest in our coverage of decisions wrestling with the workplace application of discrimination on the basis of family […]

4 Ways to Retain Employees During an Economic Downturn

Talent management professionals have navigated 3 years of upheaval. From the sudden onset of hybrid and remote working models to major fluctuations in the labor market and the current global economic uncertainty, change has been the only constant. In addition to these challenges, there remains the enduring conundrum: how best to support, engage, and retain […]

401K Matching for Student Loan Payments Finally Arrives

In this economic environment, employers are doing almost anything to attract and retain a quality workforce. Improving the suite of employee benefit offerings, sometimes without incurring major new expenditures, is top of mind for many. Enter SECURE 2.0, which includes a long-awaited 401(k) feature that has sparked employer interest for years. What Is It? The […]

contract

California Court: Some of Employee’s Claims Must Go to Arbitration

What happens if an employee files a lawsuit that includes both representative claims under the Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (PAGA) as well as individual claims for unpaid wages? May the employer enforce arbitration of the individual claims for unpaid wages, even though PAGA claims aren’t subject to arbitration? A recent case before the California Court of Appeal answers that question.

Why Layoff Survivors Matter: Re-Onboarding as a Strategic Imperative

Recent findings from Kahoot!’s 2025 Layoff Survivor Survey highlight a critical blind spot in workforce strategy after downsizing activities: surviving employees are often left without training or support, and it’s hurting both employees and business outcomes.   Conducted from April 24 to May 1, 2025, and based on input from more than 1000 U.S. workers who experienced layoffs […]

Training

It’s Time to Disown Traditional Training

The workplace has changed drastically over the last decade. New technologies allow us to be more flexible about where we work, and the rise of the gig economy has created an extended workforce of freelancers, sales representatives, and other roles that don’t fall directly within the company setting.

Sexual Orientation

Is Sexual Orientation Protected by Federal Law?

The U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals—which covers Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island—recently upheld a six-figure jury award for a firefighter’s “sex-plus” discrimination claim, ruling that federal antidiscrimination law extends protections to gay and lesbian workers in cases where they claim discrimination based on both their gender and sexual orientation.

No Coffee Breaks for You!

Could you imagine working at a place that doesn’t allow coffee breaks? The employees must be downright miserable! Which may be the case for three hospitals in England; they are banning coffee and tea breaks because it makes the employees look unproductive.

Exploring Creative Uses of Generative AI for Employee Communication and Connections

In late 2023, generative AI (GenAI) had a massive impact on workplaces of all kinds. With the introduction of ChatGPT and, quickly after, several other types of GenAI tools, rapid disruption began to occur. While many workers lamented—even feared—the disruptive impact and what it might mean for their jobs, others quickly embraced the new technology, […]

lives

Pointers for Employers in the Aftermath of ‘Strike for Black Lives’

Earlier in July, organizers and labor organizations across the country were in the process of holding a “Strike for Black Lives”—a national walkout of workers in support of “dismantling racism and white supremacy to bring about fundamental changes in our society, economy and workplaces.”