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How Employers Are Adapting to Labor Market Shifts

Various factors have combined to create what is being called the Great Resignation. Historic stock prices buoyed 401(k)s, and runaway home prices left many older workers feeling financially secure enough to retire early. Many workers have left jobs because they either fear exposure to COVID-19 or don’t want to deal with precautions like masking, testing, […]

Is Your Check Culture Light On?

There is a lot of talk surrounding company culture, which is important. A company’s culture is the revving engine behind any successful organization. Keeping with the motor metaphor, companies like to discuss what type of “engine” they want powering their car. They carefully craft and tinker these “engines,” and once they’re done, they shut the […]

Time Is on Her Side: Temporary Disabilities Under the ADA

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) entitles employees to job protections when they suffer from disabilities. In 2008, Congress passed the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), which modified the ADA. The ADAAA and regulations adopted by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) interpreting the law make clear the term “disability” should be interpreted broadly. Conditions that […]

The Hard Truth for Employers About Long Hours

By definition, most Americans think of a “full-time job” as one that is worked 40 hours per week. For some legal and regulatory purposes, 32 hours will even be classified as full-time. The reality for many workers, however, is quite different. Some professions routinely see workers putting in 60, 70 or 80 hours per week, […]

How to Enhance Employee Retention by Rethinking the Onboarding Process

It’s estimated that 47 million people left their jobs in 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prompting a flurry of “Now Hiring” announcements as everyone from major corporations to small businesses struggle to attract and retain top talent. Of course, many of these workers didn’t leave the workforce but rather changed jobs, […]

Don’t Wait Too Late to Arbitrate, Warns Supreme Court

The Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) favors the enforcement of arbitration agreements, but employers can’t wait too long to compel arbitration. Courts often apply a contract “waiver” rule if employers sit on their rights too long (meaning the court finds a party waived its right to arbitrate if it failed to start the process soon enough). […]

Employer’s COBRA Notice Missteps Mean it Must Provide Retiree with Retroactive Coverage, Pay Statutory Penalties

Employers that provide retiree medical coverage for certain employees need to carefully consider how to integrate that retiree medical coverage with continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). Many employers assume that if retirees receive retiree medical coverage at subsidized rates (or even for free), then no COBRA coverage has to be […]

Should Companies Require Workers to Take Time Off?

Aside from the lucky few who truly love their jobs, most people would prefer to be spending time away from work when possible. It’s somewhat counterintuitive, therefore, that Americans spend so much time at work, even when they have PTO available. Employees Leaving PTO on the Table “People were already working long hours before the […]

Plagues Continue: Monkeypox Emerges as Newest Workplace Safety Threat

Just as the COVID-19 threat appeared to be waning, monkeypox has emerged as the newest viral workplace threat. On July 30, 2022, New York City Mayor Eric Adams declared monkeypox a public health emergency. His announcement was followed by a statement from Governor Kathy Hochul saying the virus created an “imminent threat to public health.” […]

Faces of HR: Ana Recio on Valuing HR, Her Best Mistake & More

Meet Ana Recio, SVP of Talent at SoFi – a finance company that offers comprehensive financial solutions on one platform. We recently connected with Ana to discuss how she got her start in the industry, her biggest influences, best mistake, as well as her thoughts on how company leaders can make HR a value within their […]