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pretext

Kansas Case Shows Perils of ‘Pretext’ in Disciplinary Actions

A recent Kansas federal court decision provides a good reminder of the importance of engaging in the interactive process when you’re dealing with disability accommodation requests. The ruling also highlights the perils of “pretext” (or false excuses) when articulating nondiscriminatory reasons for disciplining an employee.

Faces of HR: How MasterClass’s CPO Turned Missteps into HR Masterstrokes

Melanie Steinbach is a driving force in Human Resources (HR), currently serving as CPO of MasterClass and CBO of MasterClass at Work. In this role, she shapes HR strategy and operations, spearheads recruitment, and champions culture initiatives. Her career is marked by a consistent thread: the strategic alignment of talent and business. A Career Forged in […]

Waiving Departing Employee’s Notice Period Can Raise Discrimination Concerns

In a recent article, we looked at the pros and cons of letting soon-to-be-departing employees work the duration of their notice period or whether it’s better to cut ties quickly. Of special concern to many HR managers is whether waiving the notice period can somehow be considered discriminatory. Coincidentally, the Iowa Court of Appeals just […]

Layoffs Lead to Lingering Concerns for Those Still on the Job

Layoffs are a key tool in the corporate cost-cutting toolkit. While popular culture may demonize staff-cutting executives as corporate boogiemen laughing with joy as they hand out pink slips (Elon Musk comes to mind), the truth is nobody enjoys layoffs. Business leaders are people too, and they understand the pain cutting jobs causes, especially cutting […]

Diversity Day

LITIGATION VALUE:  $800,000 If I represented Kelly, I think my opening statement would say something like this: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, we are here today because Kelly Kapoor’s right to work in an environment free of discrimination was violated when her boss, Michael Scott, repeatedly made negative comments about her heritage culminating in an […]

Why the Trend Toward Variable Performance Pay?

“Employers want to end the entitlement mentality of across-the-board increases and move to a pay-for-performance mentality,” says consultant Teri Morning, MBA, MS, SPHR, SPHR-CA. “Organizations are looking for less expensive, less permanent solutions, such as lump sum payments, bonuses, or just paying top performers,” she adds. Increasingly, employers are less averse to withholding merit increases […]

Diabetes Prevention: How Employers Can Save Lives and Money by Using a Simple Program

Employees who have diabetes cost companies twice as much as healthy employees.  A report from the American Diabetes Association shows that diabetes costs the country roughly $245 billion a year in lost work, wages and medical costs. The federal government has created healthy-living programs and conducted research over the year to stop the diabetes epidemic […]

merger

Navigating Labor and Employment Considerations in Mergers and Acquisitions

Merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions are complex endeavors involving various legal, financial, and operational considerations. Among these considerations, labor and employment law and regulations play a crucial role in ensuring a smooth transition for both employers and employees. Whether it’s an asset purchase, a stock purchase, a merger, or another form of M&A deal, understanding […]

social media

How to Craft a Social Media Policy for Your Employees in 2024

These days, a social media policy isn’t just an afterthought—it’s a must. The vast majority of your employees likely engage in some type of social media usage, whether they’re constantly sharing snippets of their days on TikTok, sharing interesting articles on LinkedIn, or just occasionally checking up on their cousins on Facebook. Social media is […]