Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Question: Are there any exceptions to meal and rest break requirements, and are there meal penalties for not allowing staff to take proper breaks? Can we allow employees to waive their meal breaks if they work six hours instead of eight? Answer: This question is mainly controlled by state law. Federal law, for its part, […]
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 […]
Mental health is in a delicate state. After more than 2 years of a pandemic that has left many feeling isolated and anxious, mental health challenges are having a greater impact than at any time in recent history. The COVID-19 pandemic triggered dramatic increases in anxiety and depression and contributed to 35 million additional Americans […]
On September 1, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a memorandum establishing a new enforcement initiative to prevent and protect employees from heat-related severe illnesses and deaths while working in hazardous hot indoor or outdoor environments.
The world is filled with noise, both literal and metaphorical, and there are times when everyday distractions make it difficult or impossible to focus on the task at hand. Consider that, on average, employees check their e-mail 36 times an hour and spend 2 hours each day just recovering from distractions. For many, those disruptions […]
Working mothers who return to the workplace after childbirth and wish to pump breast milk recently received enhanced legal protection when Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed legislation requiring employers to provide paid lactation breaks and private locations at the worksite.
Working from home isn’t necessarily for everyone. While some people thrive in the flexibility and independence working from home can offer, others crave greater human interaction and may struggle to stay focused amid all the potential home distractions. In this post, we provide some strategies for avoiding those distractions.
In recent years, there has been an increase in remote working, which, in turn, has created a rise in shorter employee vacations. In the past, employees often opted for extended weeks of vacation time so they could get away from the office and spend some much-needed time at home.
OfficeTeam recently released a survey exploring the true nature of the lunch hour in America. The findings show a landscape where lunch breaks are shorter, fewer workers take them, and when they do, over half use it to surf the net or social media.
Many people today lead inactive lifestyles, and the rates of obesity have been increasing for years. Many chronic conditions can result from or be exacerbated by a lack of physical activity—which means that individuals and employers alike may suffer.