Tag: HR professionals

HRDA Frankly Speaking: Let Surveys Tell a Story

Engagement surveys are a point of contention for everyone. Employees think they’re a waste of time, managers have to wrangle data into something meaningful, and the entire process feels tedious. But what if these surveys, if done right, could tell a story that actually lets a workplace grow and change to the needs of the […]

HRDA Frankly Speaking: External Factors on Internal Culture

Tyrese Manigault, Senior Manager of Employee Engagement of NASCAR, opened up a discussion during SPARK HR on the future of DEI, AI’s effects on leadership, and how leaders view legacy. In his panel, he broke down just how important it is for HR professionals to own up to what they can’t control, and approach what […]

Severance Tradeoff: What Employers and Employees Should Know

A severance agreement isn’t just a payment document—it’s a legal exchange. The employer offers new compensation or benefits, and the employee typically releases potential legal claims and accepts certain post-employment obligations. Both sides should understand that trade-off before signing. These agreements often arrive at a difficult moment. The employer wants finality, and the employee may […]

PWFA Claims Have Arrived: Anatomy of a Lawsuit

Cases are just now starting to come out involving the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). For lessons on how one employer ran afoul of its obligations, read on. Timeline It’s often helpful in a factually dense case to break events into a timeline: King filed a PWFA lawsuit, and the court denied the company’s request […]

HRDA Frankly Speaking: Gen Z: The Storytelling Generation

Since birth, Gen Z has been surrounded by technology, media, and easy access to as much information as possible. The result? They’ve grown incredibly skilled at something every business needs more of, yet few are capitalizing on it: storytelling. We’ve seen a sharp decline in entry level roles this year. Mixed with other economic uncertainty […]

salary

Salary Ain’t the Rule: Don’t Just Assume the Overtime Exemption Applies

I hear the incredulity from clients constantly: “Overtime? We pay our employees a salary—they aren’t eligible for overtime.” I call it the salary assumption. Unofficially, it’s the most common misconception in employment law. And it’s an understandable mistake. If an employee is paid a salary, how could an hourly overtime rate apply? The Fair Labor […]

Severance Agreements: Parting Ways Without Parting Claims

Employers that terminate or mutually agree to part ways with an employee may negotiate, elect to enter, or be obligated by an existing employment agreement to enter into a severance agreement with the departing employee. A severance agreement is an arm’s length agreement between employer and departing employee that serves many purposes and is highly […]

Managing PTSD as a Disability in the Workplace

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires employers to provide a reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with a disability. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can significantly affect an individual’s ability to function in various aspects of life, including the workplace. Those with PTSD are likely considered disabled under the ADA, […]

RIFs in the Age of AI: Why Data-Driven Decisions are Increasing Employer Risk

Employers have long used reductions in force (RIFs) as a high-risk but familiar response to economic pressure, restructuring, or strategic change. Traditionally, employers evaluated RIF-related risk through relatively discrete lenses—compliance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, potential discrimination claims, and the adequacy of internal documentation. Today, that approach may no longer be […]

When Hiring Plans Change Overnight 

It usually starts with a Slack message, followed by an urgent and unexpected executive team meeting: the hiring plan is being reversed. Budgets are being revisited, and active roles are being put on hold. Within hours, you’re expected to pause candidate searches, reassess headcount, manage risk, and help leaders communicate decisions that are still taking shape. This […]