Category: HR Management & Compliance

There are dozens of details to take care of in the day-to-day operation of your department and your company. We give you case studies, news updates, best practices and training tips that keep your organization fully in compliance with ever-changing employment law, and you fully aware of emerging HR trends.

Report Quantifies ‘Low Cost, High Impact’ of Accommodating Disabled Workers

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a new report finding that nearly half of workplace accommodations made for people with disabilities can be implemented at no cost to employers, and of those that do incur a one-time cost, the median expenditure has decreased when compared to previous reports to only $300. According to the DOL, an […]

Do You Need an Ombuds?

You may have a terrific HR team that’s quick to respond to employee concerns, delivers information to employees efficiently, and understands the humans who work for your company truly are its best resource. But if you’re looking to really uplevel your HR game, you may consider bringing an ombuds on board. What Is an Ombuds? […]

Heat-Related Injuries Are This Summer’s Hot Topic

As summer heats up, employers in the Southwest should keep a close eye on how heat affects their workforce. Heat-related illness is a hot topic for the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as well as state OSHA plans. Recently, an unusual settlement involved the Department of Labor (DOL) and OSHA over several heat […]

Whistleblower Retaliation Burdens of Proof: Murray v. UBS Securities

On May 1, the Supreme Court granted certiorari in Murray v. UBS Securities. Murray is a whistleblower retaliation case brought under the Sarbanes Oxley Act (SOX).  Plaintiff Trevor Murray alleges he was terminated in retaliation for raising concerns to his supervisor about his employer (UBS) committing fraud on shareholders. The jury delivered a $1 million […]

Case Study: Former Employee’s Private Social Media Not So Private After All

A worker sued her former employer for wrongful termination in violation of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD), claiming the employer’s conduct subjected her to severe emotional distress. On March 16, 2023, the New Jersey Appellate Division ruled her private social media accounts and personal cell phone records are relevant and must be turned […]

Severance

Case Study: Recent NLRB Ruling Places New Restrictions On Severance Agreements

Over the years, the NLRB has taken various positions regarding what activities might “chill” an employee’s right to organize, with some directors being very narrow in their interpretation and others extremely expansive. In evaluating whether language and severance agreements “chilled” these rights in 2020, the Board looked at both the plain language of the agreement […]

Remote Hiring: Labor Laws to Consider Across the U.S.

Remote work has skyrocketed in popularity since the beginning of the pandemic. Of course, there are many advantages to this practice, including access to a broader candidate pool and fewer real estate expenses. However, an important consideration is employees’ physical location. This compels HR professionals to familiarize themselves with employment laws of multiple states because […]

AI: Is It Helping or Hurting Businesses in the Quest to Stay Compliant?

The business world is currently abuzz with talk about artificial intelligence (AI). With incredibly intuitive tools such as ChatGPT making headlines outside of traditional tech circles, many businesses are wondering how they can integrate AI into their processes and whether it will help with or hinder their compliance efforts.  AI is a powerful tool that […]

Case Study: Could Subjective Criteria in Workforce Decisions Be Problematic?

Mergers and acquisitions bring lots of financial opportunity, but they can sometimes result in upheaval in the workforce as the new entity determines whether it will operate the business differently from its predecessor. If the new business decides to change the workforce, how should it make those decisions? A recent appeals court opinion sheds some […]

Implications of Changes in the PUMP Act

Breast milk can be incredibly important for a baby’s health, making the ability to express milk while at work a top priority for new mothers.  The PUMP Act provides nursing mothers the right to take breaks and to have a place to express milk during the workday. This right extends for one year after the birth […]