Sunday December 22, 2024

These non-compete agreements are now under fire … from feds

If you have any of these non-compete agreements with employees, they may be on the endangered species list.  They are: Agreements with lower-wage workers Agreements with workers who promote public health and safety, and Agreements with employees who are not privy to trade secrets. The White House issued a call-to-action to reform non-compete agreements. Specifically, […]

New anti-retaliation rules issued under ACA & injury laws

The federal government just added another box employers must check before terminating or taking a disciplinary action against an employee.  Currently, if an employer (including a manager or supervisor) wants to terminate or discipline an employee, a series of questions must be asked beforehand, including: Does the action look discriminatory for any reason? Is the […]

What is ‘enhanced’ FMLA fitness-for-duty, and how can you use it?

If you’re concerned an employee won’t be able to take on his or her job responsibilities after FMLA leave, here’s a tool you can use to protect your company.  It’s being referred to as an “enhanced” fitness-for-duty certification. What is it? These certifications go beyond the standard fitness-for-duty certifications you’re used to. Under a standard […]

5 interview questions HR leaders should be asking now

The best candidates have qualifications that are more than skills-deep.  Discovering these qualities in the interview process is difficult. But these five questions, from Amy Zimmerman and Jen Richard of the online financial tech company Kabbage can help you do just that. ——————————————————————- Moving past impression and into reality is crucial to hiring the right […]

ADA: Another example of just how hard it is to comply with the law

A new court ruling just made it a little more difficult for employers, managers and supervisors to comply with the ADA’s accommodation requirements.  Meet Roberta Kowitz. She worked as a respiratory therapist for Trinity Health in North Dakota. Kowitz had spinal stenosis, a degenerative spine disease that can require corrective surgery. Kowitz eventually had corrective […]

5 Ways to Help Gen Zers Succeed in the Workplace

Gen Zers are entering the workforce in droves, and that means managers need to be equipped to handle them. Be prepared to guide and mentor these new employees from the start using these five strategies to help Gen Zers succeed at work. Learn more!  Tweet This Post

ACA compliance: 4 hidden penalty triggers to avoid

Here’s a compelling reason to review your ACA compliance efforts ASAP.   By the end of 2018, the DOL intends to audit every applicable U.S. employer for ACA compliance. Whether the agency can make good on that goal is up for debate. But the implication is clear: Most employers will have their ACA practices put […]

Status report: How employees feel about their benefits

Employees are ill-prepared for a medical emergency, interested in expanded insurance offerings and willing to take pay cuts for better benefits.   These are just some of the highlights from the 2016 Aflac WorkForces Report, which was unveiled at ebn’s 29th Annual Benefits Forum & Expo in Nashville. The findings give HR pros some good […]

The tricky connection between FMLA and overtime

If your company requires employees to work mandatory overtime, it’s important to factor those extra hours into your calculations when determining employees’ FMLA entitlement.   And a recent court ruling provided a timely reminder of what can happen when employers fail to do so. That’s one of the key takeaways from Hernandez v. Bridgestone Americas […]

EEOC issues 2017 enforcement plan: 6 areas it’s targeting next

The EEOC just issued its second-ever Strategic Enforcement Plan. This is a big deal. Here’s why.  The plan will dictate where the agency will focus its compliance enforcement efforts from 2017 through 2021. In other words, if the agency investigates or sues an employer, chances are it’ll be in one of the primary enforcement areas outlined […]