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HR Management

FMLA, ADA and attendance: Consider health problems before firing for failing to call off

07/29/2024
Ordinarily, employers can require employees to notify their boss if they anticipate having to miss work. But there’s an exception for those times when the employee simply can’t make that call because of their disability or serious health condition. Always double-check and consider the circumstances before making a final discipline or termination decision based on an employee’s failure to call.

DEI under fire: Employers find legal ways to diversify

07/29/2024
A year after Students for Fair Admissions, which decided that affirmative action in college admissions violated anti-discrimination laws, some employers are finding novel ways to diversify their workforces without resorting to specific hiring and promotion goals. Here are some promising approaches.

Are RTO mandates just layoffs in disguise?

07/29/2024
More than a third of managers and senior leaders believe their organizations laid off workers because return-to-office mandates failed to make more employees quit, according to a new survey by Bamboo HR. They’re probably right.

Let’s talk politics (or not): Regulating political expression at work

07/29/2024
The run-up to a national or local election can spark heated debate around the watercooler. That can cause distractions, disputes—and, in some cases, lawsuits. You have the legal right to control employees’ activities on the job. That includes putting a stop to political activism or political solicitations at work.

Filing cabinet cleanup: Set up 4 folders per employee

07/29/2024
Too many HR files consist of fat folders, organized one per employee, with the most recent documentation at the front and everything dating back to Day One behind it. You can and must do better. Federal and state laws require employers to keep separate files for a variety of employee records.

Beyond the punchline: Create a culture of appropriate humor

07/24/2024
When used correctly, humor can lighten the mood, build relationships and even increase job satisfaction. However, it’s essential to strike the right balance to avoid potential pitfalls. Here are some key strategies for fostering an environment where humor is appropriate and beneficial.

Surviving the 2024 election with your workplace intact

07/22/2024
At the recent SHRM Conference, workplace behavior expert Dr. Dennis Davis of Ogletree Deakins and nationally recognized employment lawyer Joe Beachboard of Beachboard Consulting discussed critical issues associated with employee expression from legal and psychological standpoints. They also offered guidance to help organizations cope with the coming elections.

Percentage of remote workers held steady in 2023 at 35%

07/22/2024
Remote work appears to be here to stay, according to a new analysis by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Its latest American Time Use Survey found that 35% of employed people did some or all of their work at home in 2023, up slightly from 34% in 2022.

How does your HR-to-employee ratio measure up?

07/22/2024
A report from payroll-processing giant ADP says American employers had 2.6 HR staffers for every 100 employees at the end of 2023. That’s up 11% since 2018, when the ratio was 2.35 per 100.

Natty dread: Avoid grooming rules that ban religious hairstyles

07/19/2024
Last year’s blockbuster Supreme Court opinion in Groff v. DeJoy required employers to accommodate almost all religious accommodations requested by employees. However, it’s clear that many employers haven’t yet revamped their policies in light of the ruling—and that’s triggering a flurry of EEOC complaints and religious-discrimination lawsuits.