Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
The plot of good versus evil, good guys versus bad guys, or right versus wrong has played out in books and movies for ages. It is arguably the most common struggle at the center of narratives of all types. So it should be no surprise that the same struggle is prevalent in corporate environments under […]
On March 21, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a national emphasis program (NEP) to focus its enforcement efforts on preventing employees from contracting COVID-19 and protecting those who report unsafe working conditions. In general, an NEP is a method by which OSHA temporarily focuses its resources on a specific danger or […]
A Form I-9 is required for all new hires to verify their employment eligibility. Before March 2020, employers had to physically inspect original documents the new hires presented for I-9 purposes. After the COVID-19 pandemic started, however, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) relaxed the physical inspection requirement, provided the business had no employees reporting […]
Employee psychological safety, a vital factor in any organization’s productivity, is increasingly under threat. With a recent Boston University study showing that cases of depression and anxiety went up by 300% last year, employees have never been at greater risk of burnout. However, while much of this recent wave of adverse mental health is due […]
With millions of Americans working remotely, there are much fewer nonverbal social cues that come from in-person interaction. While the sophistication of modern telecommunications technology has been a saving grace in the midst of widespread remote work, it is not, at least at present, a perfect substitute. This means it’s more important than ever to […]
It’s hard to find the perfect workplace, and much of what makes a workplace “perfect” depends on the nature of the work being done. A quiet, secluded office devoid of any distractions might be perfect for powering through mundane, repetitive work. But it wouldn’t necessarily lend itself to creativity. The Creative Power of Public Spaces […]
It’s doubtful there’s an employer that hasn’t had to deal with negative employees. Without any intervention, negative employees can quickly cause a decline in morale, and the entire workplace might be affected, even increasing turnover.
DEI is an acronym you’ve probably seen a lot lately. It stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion. While these concepts aren’t new, they’ve taken on renewed focus for employers that want to proactively ensure everyone feels welcome and safe and is treated fairly in their workplace. This country has a long history of marginalizing entire […]
Recently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued guidance titled “Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace.” The new guidance, which is advisory, addresses not only some of the more commonplace safety practices but also other employment policies and practices not as readily associated with workplace safety.
An employer could lawfully terminate an employee who used a racial slur on Facebook, the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals (whose rulings cover all Ohio employers) recently concluded after applying a test that balances a public employee’s First Amendment right to free speech against the employer’s interest in maintaining an effective workplace.