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.

Preventing Workplace Violence Through Situational Awareness

“What can we do?” This is among the most common questions I get after a major incident of violence. It’s not uncommon for there to be a heightened interest for a while, then things go back to “normal.” However, things feel different this time. As I’m writing this article, the news playing in the background […]

Mississippi Pay Equity Law Takes Effect on July 1

Currently, only one state does not have an equal pay law, and that state is Mississippi. On July 1, 2022, Mississippi will join all other states when its equal pay law goes into effect. Let’s take a closer look.

Disability Accommodations in Post-Pandemic Work-from-Home World

In years past, employees who requested remote working arrangements were often met with strong resistance from managers, who viewed such requests as excuses to shirk responsibilities. Holding firm to a “face time” mentality, many members of management believed employees simply couldn’t be efficient and focused if they routinely worked from home. Then, of course, the […]

DOL Issues New Guidance to Employers Warning About Retaliation

Retaliation continues to be at the top of the federal government’s priority list. In March 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a new field assistance bulletin titled Protecting Workers from Retaliation, which addresses worker protections from retaliation under laws enforced by the agency’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD). The DOL pledged to “use every […]

Ask The Expert: Fair Disciplinary Action or a Quick Reaction?

In our latest installment of Ask the Expert, brought to you by the team of industry experts at HR Hero®, we look at a recent question from a subscriber regarding disciplinary action in the workplace, company compliance, and what can be deemed as fair policy. Q: We have a newly hired manager who is suspending staff like […]

4th Circuit Providing Lesson on Drafting Employee Agreements

The U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals (which covers Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia) recently issued a published decision on an employer’s second appeal of a judgment in favor of its former employee on claims of breaching an employment agreement and misappropriating trade secrets under the Maryland Uniform Trade Secrets Act […]

It’s High Time to Review Your Drug Testing Policy

As the marijuana legalization and decriminalization trend continues throughout states across the nation (including with recent April 2022 action by the U.S. House of Representatives), now is a good time for all employers to review and update your drug testing policies.

Monitoring Employee Social Media

Social media is ubiquitous. With our use of social media at an all-time high, employers must take extra care to protect company information. In a world in which employees are live streaming their “everything” on social media, employers must determine whether to monitor employee social media accounts. And it’s not uncommon for employers to do […]

EEOC Warns of Higher Risk of Caregiver Discrimination in Changing World, Workplace

The COVID-19 pandemic placed a spotlight on the challenge of juggling work and personal obligations, including coordinating the demands of virtual learning, school closures, and other scheduling issues. Even as the pandemic evolves to become endemic, it may still have a lingering effect on the lives of workers who need to juggle hybrid school schedules […]