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3 more states mandate paid sick leave

11/18/2024
Voters in Alaska, Missouri and Nebraska on Nov. 5 overwhelmingly approved ballot measures requiring employers to provide paid sick leave. Those states will join 15 others and the District of Columbia that already mandate paid sick leave.

Prepare for questions on Trump’s HR-related promises

11/08/2024
After President-elect Trump takes office on Jan. 20, 2025, expect a flurry of new policy proposals affecting HR and employment law—and efforts to roll back many of the Biden administration’s policies.

Survey: Unlimited PTO doesn’t significantly increase leave-taking

10/28/2024
According to 2023 research by the Society for Human Resource Management, only about 8% of employers place no limits on employee leave. Many no doubt worry their employees would abuse unlimited PTO. A new survey may help allay those fears.

PWFA: Routinely grant requests for leave to attend pregnancy-related appointments

10/16/2024
EEOC rules implementing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act say employers should routinely grant pregnant employees’ requests for time off to attend pregnancy-related medical appointments. It’s so clear-cut that one employer just quickly agreed to settle when the EEOC threatened to file a failure-to-accommodate lawsuit under the PWFA.

Time off to vote? It may be required in your state

10/15/2024
There is no federal law that requires employers to provide voting leave. Whether you provide paid time off depends on your policies and whether you are in a jurisdiction that requires it.

Provide any form of short-term leave? Better cover military leave, too

09/20/2024
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act requires employers that provide any form of short-term leave to also grant leave to members of the National Guard and military reserves so they can take time off for training or short deployments. In doing so, the 9th Circuit joined several other federal circuits in finding that USERRA requires employers to provide such leave.

“Stolen time” accusation results in $82 million verdict

09/19/2024
When employees don’t log time off into the leave system, employers assume workers are trying to cheat employers. Before you make that accusation, consider whether a supervisor authorized the move.

Back-to-school: How to manage leave requests

08/30/2024
The start of each school year brings new responsibilities that pull employees away from work. You may try to be flexible with your parent-workers, but how far you bend depends in large part on whether employees are nonexempt or exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state short-term leave laws.

Prepare to comply: Final PWFA rules now in effect almost everywhere

06/21/2024
Final rules implementing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act took effect June 18, with partial exceptions limited to employers in Louisiana and Mississippi, employers affiliated with the Catholic Church and state government agencies in Texas. That means almost all employers must now comply with the final PWFA rules.

5 tips for managing summer vacation requests

06/21/2024
It’s officially summer, a popular time for employees to use their paid time off. Ideally, your company’s policy and culture encourage employees to submit their vacation requests early so the dates they’ll be out are already known. Early vacation requests and approvals make planning and accommodating multiple requests easier, while ensuring “the work” still gets done.