Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Despite the fact that there are no federal laws outlining what employer dress code policies can and cannot do, there are still plenty of ways dress codes can get employers in legal trouble. Legal challenges to dress codes are often based on allegations of gender bias, religious bias, race/national origin bias, or disability bias. To […]
Two primary perspectives exist when it comes to employee reward programs: Reward programs are seen as a cost of doing business, in which case the goal is to minimize the costs. Reward programs are seen as an investment, in which case the goal is to optimize the return on the investment. Organizations, including their managers […]
Telecommuting is one form of workplace flexibility that can be beneficial to both employees and employers alike. While many people can quickly name employee benefits such as improved work-life balance, shorter commute times, and increased satisfaction, there are just as many benefits for employers. “Organizations began recognizing that there were business results as a result […]
Does an employer have liability for injuries that telecommuters incur while in their home office? How can you keep your company culture if you allow people to work from home? Who should pay for equipment for telecommuting employees’ home offices? In a recent BLR webinar, Dayna Fellows answered these questions and more. Here’s a sample […]
As a result of the U.S. Supreme Court rulings on same-sex marriage, employers throughout the United States will have to adjust their benefits plans, policies and documents to accommodate employees’ same-sex spouses for purposes of federal law and regulations. California employers will need to do the same for purposes of state law. On June 26, […]
Conflict resolution in the workplace can be broken down into steps to simplify the process. By doing so, HR and managers can ensure more effective communication and a more effective conflict resolution process.
Employers must not impose probation on employees for excessive absences that include leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act. To do so is akin to using a disciplinary measure to penalize employees for taking qualified FMLA leave. So ruled the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey as it permitted the FMLA […]
When an employer fails to participate in the interactive process of finding a workplace accommodation for an employee with a disability, that misstep can be used as evidence of discrimination. Such a failure is not, however, an ADA violation when it stands alone, the 7th Circuit ruled in Basden v. Professional Transportation, Inc., No. 11-2880 […]
The agency responsible for enforcing the Americans with Disabilities has revised several of its guidance documents to reflect recent changes to the law. The May 15 changes were necessary because of the ADA Amendments Act, which expanded the law’s coverage in 2009, the U.S said in a press release. The documents explain how ADA applies […]
Before January 1, 2014, employers covered by the employer responsibility provision of the health care reform law—also known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA)—will need to decide if they will provide health care insurance to their employees or pay the penalties for not doing so. This decision is commonly referred to as ‘play or pay.’ […]