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.

Case Study: 5th Circuit Says Remote Work Can Be Reasonable ADA Accommodation

The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals (whose rulings cover Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi) shocked employers out of the summer doldrums with a new opinion issued on June 28, 2023. In a 2-1 vote, it declared that remote work or commuter assistance for an employee in the Houston area can be a reasonable accommodation under […]

How to Handle a Difficult Employee

Within your company, is there one employee who just kind of gets everyone’s guard up? Maybe they’re a bit rude or forceful. Maybe they kick back too often and let others pick up the slack. Or maybe their negative attitude is just a total drain on business operations. The problems they bring to the table […]

If Noncompetes Are Gone, What’s Next?

Protecting against intellectual property theft and unauthorized disclosure of confidential business information has always been an important practice for businesses, yet the continuing evolution of the labor market post-COVID has increased the risk of intellectual property loss due to employee mobility and remote work. Employers have traditionally turned to noncompete, nonsolicitation, and confidentiality agreements to […]

What To Expect (From the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act) When You’re Expecting

Since 1978, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA)—which amended Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964—has prohibited discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions. For 45 years, however, the landmark law fell short of specifically addressing a pregnant or postpartum employee’s need for special accommodations while working. Until now. A New Law […]

Complying with the OFCCP’s New Disability Self-Identification Form

On July 25, 2023, an updated form from the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) became required for all applicable federal contractors and subcontractors subject to Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. The new form lists additional disabilities, expands the possible responses, and provides more descriptive and inclusive language. It also clarifies that completing the form […]

What Businesses Should Know About Intellectual Property

Many individuals—and all businesses—have intellectual property. This includes everything from names and brands, to inventions, software, and works of art. Too often those assets go unprotected. As companies prepare to develop and commercialize a product or idea, it’s important that they understand what is needed to strategically protect their assets. What Is Intellectual Property? Intellectual […]

Are Your Workplace Policies Prepared for Generative AI?

As generative artificial intelligence (GAI) technology, such as ChatGPT, finds new and greater uses in the workplace, employers must consider the myriad of legal and other issues that come with it. For good reason, employers increasingly are implementing policies to mitigate potential risks and ensure safe and permissible uses of GAI by employees. In this […]

I-9 Verification Just Got Easier

On August 1, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a revamped and streamlined Form I-9, which must be used starting November 1. The biggest change, however, is DHS’s creation of an “alternate procedure” that will make it easier for employers to inspect an employee’s work authorization documents. In lieu of a physical document […]