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In 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued proposed regulations that would revise the requirements for the white-collar exemptions under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The DOL has not yet issued the final regulations. This article explains the steps employers should take in response to the proposed regulations. FLSA and the proposed […]
No workers want to get hurt on the job, and most are trained on how to prevent injuries. But preventable injuries still occur. What can the human resources department do about that? Just communicating the importance of safety procedures and working with supervisors and management on effective ways to promote safety make a good start. […]
by Brad Federman It’s time to rethink HR. It’s actually way past due. Globalization, millennials entering the workforce, a shift to contract and part-time labor, an increase in diversity, technology that encourages networking, and open communications are just a few of the signs that illustrate the shift in the workplace. HR should be at the […]
College seniors can be excused for looking anxiously at their calendars this time of year. The days are ticking away toward spring graduation, meaning the real world of adult responsibility awaits. But as excited as young adults are about their first foray into the professional world, the unknowns spark a barrage of scary questions: What […]
by Cole Wist If an employer skimps on safety protections for its workers, will it also ignore environmental protections? The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) think so. Tag-team approach The DOL and the DOJ are teaming up under a new Worker Endangerment Initiative to investigate and prosecute worker […]
by Michele L. (Warnock) Brott What business doesn’t value its customers? After all, the customer is always right. The trouble is, customers are people, too, and people come with a variety of biases and bad behavior that can create issues for employers. In other words, racist, sexist, or discriminatory customers can present a liability problem […]
It’s a rare boss who expects workers to spend hours constantly on task without taking the occasional 10- or 15-minute break to rest and recharge. But tell that to employees who, because of workplace culture or their own insecurities, think their careers will suffer if they’re not knocking themselves out every minute of the day. […]
by Vanessa L. Goddard What makes a business a good place to work? Those of you who do not unwind by watching YouTube or reading Wikipedia entries may be surprised to learn a little about Google as an employer. Remarkably, Google has unlimited sick leave—an unheard of, mind-boggling concept. Google has legal aid (ahem). The […]
by Matthew H. Parker Senior-level employees often enter into contracts stating they will receive separation pay if their employment is terminated unexpectedly. For example, employers often promise executives severance pay unless they are fired “for cause.” Other times, a company will promise that an executive can resign and collect severance pay following a change in […]
Employers are generally willing, even eager, to invest time, energy, and money into bringing on a superstar employee. They’re confident the payoff that comes from hiring a star will make the effort worth it. But what if the employer also has a toxic employee? Will a strong hire counteract the damage? A recent Harvard Business […]