Tag: hiring

At Public Meeting, FTC Indicated Intent to Prosecute Unreasonable Noncompetes

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a half-day program on January 27, 2026, focused on employee noncompetes. The FTC indicated its intent to pursue prosecution of agreements that violate antitrust or otherwise inappropriately limit employee choice. However, the commission is not reproposing the prior rule banning all noncompetes. If workers have issues, the agency suggests […]

Can You Fire Employees Who Don’t Return FMLA Forms?

Q: If an employee takes sick leave but hasn’t completed and returned a Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) form, can the employer lawfully terminate employment? Both employers and employees have responsibilities when FMLA-qualifying leave is involved, including timely notice and compliance with employer policies. To assess what happens when an employee takes potentially FMLA-qualifying […]

HRDA Frankly Speaking: Adam Hickman on AI & Leadership

The world seems to be changing at a faster rate every single day, and employees taking the brunt of the change, and fearing for the future. Job loss is rampant, economic uncertainty looms around every corner, and no one truly knows if their same job will be around tomorrow. So, how do leaders guide their […]

Guns at Work: Keeping Employees Safe in Troubling Times

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), nearly two million American workers report experiencing some type of workplace violence annually. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), homicide accounted for nearly 9% of all on-the-job fatalities in 2023 (the most recent data available). Suicide accounted for another 5%. With civil […]

Nurses Aren’t Burned Out, They’re Being Burned by the System 

A growing body of workforce data is pointing to an uncomfortable truth. Nursing burnout is an active threat to workforce stability across healthcare. In a recent survey issued to registered nurses nationwide, 53% of respondents reported seriously considering leaving the profession at least once a month over a six-month period. This level of recurring intent to exit […]

Leadership Magic: Adam Hickman on Guiding Employees in Today’s Age

The world seems to be changing at a faster rate every single day, and employees are taking the brunt of the change, and fearing for the future. Job loss is rampant, economic uncertainty looms around every corner, and no one truly knows if their same job will be around tomorrow. So, how do leaders guide […]

Department of Labor Issues FLSA Guidance in Recent Opinion Letters

Earlier this year, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued opinion letters offering employers guidance regarding certain wage and hour matters under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). While these opinion letters are nonbinding, courts often defer to these letters when presented with similar issues. The letters also offer employers valuable insight into the DOL’s interpretation […]

EntertainHR: Knives Out: The Mystery of the Independent Contractor 

Many of you are likely familiar with the popular whodunnit movie franchise, Knives Out. The latest film in the series, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, released on November 26, 2025. It is a spectacular mystery filled with action and laughs. It also made me ponder one of the ever-present “mysteries” in the modern workplace, independent contractors.  The Knives […]

4th Circuit Decision Highlights WARN Act Risks for Broader Corporate Families

Since the late 1980s, employers conducting large layoffs have had to ensure compliance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. While doing the calculus to determine whether there are WARN notice obligations may be straightforward, typically, complications can arise when the employer is one of several entities in a group of related companies. […]

Beyond HIPAA: Navigating the ‘More Stringent’ Standard

In light of the February 16, 2026, deadline for covered entities to update their notice of privacy practices (NPP), covered entities should consider “more stringent” state laws that may apply to these updated forms and require compliance. The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy rule sets the floor for privacy protections and […]