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Coordinating FMLA with USERRA

In this article series, we’ll focus on the intersection of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and how it affects many other laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), workers’ comp, and other state laws that apply to medical or disability leaves. Additionally, the FMLA may intersect with a variety of employer-provided leaves […]

How Does HR Use Social Media?

HR departments are using social media for a surprising number of tasks, and their use of social media will increase significantly in 2014, according to the recent HR trends survey.

retirement

IRS Raises Several Annual Retirement Plan Limits for 2018

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) raised several annual threshold and benefit levels for 2018 when it announced them on October 19. Employers and retirement plan administrators can apply the new rates as they prepare their plans for next year and conduct nondiscrimination testing. Notice 2017-64 outlined the latest changes to cost-of-living adjustments for employee benefit […]

Why You Should Avoid Overstating Applicant Qualifications

When hiring new employees, you want to hire the best, right? It seems like it would be a good thing for new hires to be extremely well qualified. After all, isn’t it good for the organization if the new hires have skill sets that go beyond what they need for their current role?

leadership

Five Ways to Identify Future Leaders in Entry-Level Candidates

People know a great leader when they see one. Yet, if you ask 10 people to describe the characteristics of a strong leader, you’ll probably get 10 different answers. True leadership is an evolutionary process in which successes and occasional failures have helped develop leadership abilities in equal measure. No two leaders have the exact […]

Can I Fire an Employee for Being Loud?

Q We run a fine-dining restaurant in which the ambient atmosphere is an integral part of our business. We host many business lunches and other professional-type meetings because of the quiet and relaxed environment. That environment has changed a little bit lately as the result of our new hostess, Kimberly. Kimberly is quite the talker. […]

learning

How to Create an Effective Learning Strategy Inside Your Organization (Part One)

With all the research and data that exists today, it is hard to deny the benefits of having a learning and development (L&D) discipline within an organization. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that most leaders in mid- to large-size organizations include learning and talent development initiatives in their overall business strategy. Additionally, they […]

Ensure your team is working together for a common goal

by Dan Oswald Our newly inaugurated president is in the midst of selecting the team he will work with to achieve his vision for our country. And while, in his case, many of those selections will require congressional approval, they are nonetheless his choices. It’s an interesting process to watch. Imagine recruiting and hiring your […]

Gross Misconduct—Can You Deny COBRA?

Gross Misconduct Means No COBRA, But … Termination for gross misconduct is not a qualifying event under COBRA, so COBRA continuation coverage does not have to be offered to an employee and his or her spouse and dependent children if the employee was terminated for gross misconduct. Unfortunately, the term “gross misconduct” is not defined […]