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DOL Confirms Cybersecurity Guidance Applies to Health and Welfare Plans

On September 6, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) confirmed its cybersecurity guidance applies to all employee benefit plans, including health and welfare plans. In 2021, the DOL issued guidance providing best practices in cybersecurity for plan sponsors, plan fiduciaries, recordkeepers, and plan participants. The retirement plan industry took notice and has generally made […]

The Role of HR in Creating a Culture of Cybersecurity Awareness 

With businesses increasingly relying on technology, cybersecurity threats are more prevalent than ever. Cyberattacks can target any organization, from small businesses to large corporations, and cause financial loss and long-lasting reputational damage. While information technology (IT) teams are often seen as the front line of defense against these attacks, human resources (HR) plays a crucial […]

Connecting Hearts and Minds: Vandana Juneja’s Journey to Shaping Inclusive Workplaces

Vandana Juneja has dedicated her career to shaping workplaces that are inclusive, equitable, and empowering. With a background spanning human resources (HR), law, and global consulting, Juneja’s diverse experiences uniquely equip her for her role as the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion  Officer, a new role at Thornton Tomasetti, a scientific and engineering consulting firm. In […]

With the Rise of AI, Is a Chief Automation Officer Necessary? 

In the age of digital transformation and advanced technology like AI, automation is a critical element for organizations to stay competitive. That’s why many C-suites are considering incorporating a Chief Automation Officer (CAO) into the fabric of their organization to provide senior executive oversight of automation initiatives. But is a whole new role in the […]

Employers Are Cool on Gen Z, While Gen Z is Burned Out

It’s always a bit of an unknown how each generation will perform and fit into the “real world” when they move on from high school or college and enter the workforce. Each generation has its own unique experiences, preferences, and styles. Of course, we’re talking about trends identified between generations; within those generations, there is […]

Finding the Win-Win When Offering Employees Financial Wellness Programs

It’s no surprise to employers that too many workers are more than a little distracted from stress over how to make ends meet, leading many organizations to launch financial wellness programs. But employers have questions. Chief among them: What should such programs include, and how well do they work for employees? Healthcare Help an Option […]

5 Timeless Basics of Effective Management

The very nature of middle management is being in the middle—caught between the direction of company leaders and the needs of employees. There’s often a disconnect between the two. Growing Demands in a Changing Environment Managers today are especially feeling the pinch from a combination of growing demands for flexibility and work-life balance from employees, […]

In A Win for Public Employers, CA Supreme Court Rules PAGA Penalties, Other California Wage & Hour Laws, Do Not Apply

In August 2024, the California Supreme Court decided Stone v. Alameda Health System, which clarified that the meal and rest break requirements of the California Labor Code at sections 226.7 and 512 and other Labor Code provisions do not apply to public employers. The Court also held that the California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) penalty […]

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Ask the Expert: Can Employees Be Held Legally Accountable for Paying Overpaid Wages Back?

Question: Is there a statute of limitations regarding when employers must inform employees of an overpayment of wages, and can employees be held legally accountable for paying the overpayment back? Answer: The Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA) doesn’t address how long an employer has to recover overpaid wages. In the absence of federal law, state […]

Workplace Mental Health Concerns on the Rise

Mental health concerns in the workplace continue to plague businesses of all kinds. Recent research indicates that 83% of U.S. workers suffer from some form of work-related stress; 25% say that their job is the top stressor in their lives. That stress can lead to absenteeism and relationship impacts. For instance: The top causes of […]