The HR Specialist

02/20/2025

As the pendulum has shifted from a fully remote workforce to a more hybrid or full in-office arrangement, now is the time to evaluate how to create a workplace experience that fosters engagement and productivity.

02/20/2025

The letter acknowledges that under the FMLA, employees can elect to use accrued vacation, sick and workers’ comp leave for unpaid FMLA leave, and employers can require it. This substitution runs concurrent with FMLA leave until the entitlement is used up.

02/20/2025

Since taking office, President Trump has aggressively issued orders seeking to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives from the federal government—and now from the private sector, too. To avoid potential federal scrutiny, you may want to consider revising your DEI programs and how they are described in your handbook.

02/19/2025

Vendors relentlessly market their wellness plans to employers, intentionally misrepresenting or not understanding the payroll rules. You’d be wise to not take vendors’ claims at face value. Two questions illustrate.

02/18/2025

Terminations are probably the hardest things HR professionals have to handle—and probably the most legally dangerous. One wrong word can trigger a lawsuit. You need to keep calm and communicate your message without escalating the tension. Here’s a 10-step process to follow.

02/12/2025

In 2022, New Jersey voters approved an amendment to the state constitution that decriminalized the use and possession of marijuana. The law also barred discrimination based on marijuana usage but stated that employers were entitled to maintain a drug- and alcohol-free workplace.