Is it possible for music played at work to constitute discrimination based on sex? Yes, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has ruled in a new decision. Music that has “sexually derogatory and violent content, played constantly…
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As an HR leader, you've become well-versed in formulating and executing people strategy - a good foundation for becoming a successful CEO. But it takes more than just leadership skills and keen strategic acumen to reach the top of an…
When employers have to make the difficult decision to fire employees, they need to make sure that they do not act in an unlawful manner -- they need to avoid wrongful termination. Generally, employment in the U.S. is “at will,”…
The move toward a federal ban on non-compete agreements inched forward with the issuance of a new government memo that says the use of these agreements usually violates the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). Jennifer Abruzzo, who is general counsel…
Expressing a hiring preference for a particular gender can be a very dangerous thing for employers to do. Why? Because there is a good chance it will lead to a claim of unlawful discrimination – and that the claim will…
A new NLRB decision means employers must proceed very carefully before disciplining employees who get a little heated while engaging in union activity. The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) gives employees the right to form labor organizations and “to engage…
A recent lawsuit provides a case study on what NOT to do when handling employee complaints. How bad was it? A jury awarded an eight-figure payout to a fired worker. To avoid similar mistakes, download our Practical Tools guide on…
Heads up, HR: The Department of Labor (DOL) just released new PUMP Act guidance to help employers comply with the law. As you probably recall, the agency just started PUMP Act enforcement last month -- so the timing of this…
Saying it is the “capstone” of its resources on the subject, the EEOC has issued another update to its COVID-19 guidance. Demonstrating the fluidity of the situation presented by the pandemic, the agency has now updated this guidance about 20…
Employee communication can be a headache for HR – even just getting employees to open your emails can sometimes feel like a struggle. But when it comes to benefits, a lack of effective communication can lead to confusion and stress…
Employee recognition and rewards can have a significant positive impact on your company culture and retention rate. According to Jason Lindstrom, CEO of Bucketlist Rewards, when your employees are deeply aligned around meaningful purpose and vision, and are acknowledged for…
What’s solid evidence of race bias, and what’s not? In this lawsuit, a Black worker claimed that the use of the nickname “Sly,” together with other allegations he offered, showed illegal race bias in the workplace. A federal appeals court…
It’s no secret that employee and leadership well-being has taken a dip since the pandemic. With economic turbulence fueling layoff fears, inflation and a historically tight labor market, there’s no shortage of stressors that are impacting your employees and taking…
An unpublished court ruling says that “employers may not circumvent Title VII protections by ‘fractioning’ an employee's job.” Huh? Let’s explain what the court meant by job “fractioning” in the context of the case – and why it’s important for…
A national company will pay more than $67,000 after making a paternity leave mistake that looked a lot like retaliation to the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD). First things first: Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), both…
Recruiting quality, high-performing candidates for critical roles in your organization is one of HR's biggest ongoing challenges. Of course you do your recruiting due diligence by determining whether a potential hire's experience and skill level are appropriate for the job.…
