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5th Circuit Rejects Disability Discrimination Claim Based on Alcoholism

An employer wasn’t liable to a former employee who alleged he was terminated because of a disability, his alcoholism, the 5th Circuit recently decided. Although the appeals court didn’t directly address whether alcoholism qualified as a protected disability when it upheld a New Orleans-based district court ruling, the opinion offers guidance on how employers can […]

Strong Suits That Moms Bring to Remote Working

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are around 23.5 million employed women with children under the age of 18, and nearly two-thirds of those moms work full time and year-round. Moms have always been synonymous with superheroes, especially when you consider the multitude of things they are able to juggle in 1 day. This […]

Employee Benefit Considerations From ARPA: All Things COBRA

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) became law in March. The $1.9 trillion stimulus package contains a mix of benefits, tax credits, programs, and subsidies in response to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Among the ARPA’s provisions are several related to COBRA. Let’s take a closer look.

Human and Machine: How to Elevate the Role of HR and Promote Worker Autonomy

According to our favorite science fiction films and novels, artificial intelligence (AI) will play a major role in contributing to our dystopian future, right? Well, I’m here to tell you there’s some serious misunderstanding here. In reality, AI has the potential, when done right and created ethically, to change how we work and collaborate for […]

Employee Appreciation Tips

We’ve all seen the headlines: Recruiting at the moment is complex at best. Employers are trying to ramp back up now that more and more people are vaccinated from COVID-19 and returning to some semblance of normal, and this is causing significantly increased competition for talent. When hiring is difficult, employers have to remember to […]

training

Surge in Online Learning Seen During COVID Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically upended everyday life for people around the world. For millions of Americans, the inability to attend traditional social events coupled with the ability to work from home meant significant amounts of additional free time, above and beyond pre-pandemic levels. For those who lost jobs, that free time increased even more. Managing […]

diverse

DEI Strategies Start at the Top

The renewed focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has come with companywide courses, seminars, and workshops on creating more inclusive workplaces. While “unconscious bias” workshops check the box, what is missing is the commitment from the top. Executive buy-in is critical for progress, but if the unconscious, or conscious, bias is coming from the […]

10th Circuit Decision May Affect Work-From-Home Requests After Pandemic Ends

As COVID-19 vaccinations increase and states ease pandemic-related restrictions, many employers are beginning to plan for employees’ to return to the office. But not all workers may want to return, and some might ask to work remotely because of ongoing concerns about the virus in light of underlying health conditions or simply a fear of […]

How HR Challenges Are Shaping the Healthcare Industry

I am sure all of us are aware that employees are a company’s most significant asset. This is true across all industries, especially when it comes to health care, for which one needs highly trained professionals. Because medical professionals are responsible for others’ lives, meeting the needs of this workforce is extremely important and no […]

Legal Protections for Domestic Violence Survivors

What legal protections exist at the federal level for the survivors of domestic violence? The answer: surprisingly few. The reason this is surprising is because domestic violence has a direct impact on the workplace. People dealing with domestic violence are likely to need to take time away from work for things like medical treatment, obtaining […]