The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is serious about enforcing federal labor laws, as shown by three recent cases that resulted in million-dollar payouts by alleged offenders. The DOL’s Wage and Hour Division is responsible for enforcing federal Fair Labor…
News
The McDonald Oil Company agreed to pay $400,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit, the EEOC announced in a press release. According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, the Georgia-based company “ignored frequent complaints from multiple female employees and customers about ongoing…
With talks swirling about recession fears and layoffs happening every day, many experts have predicted companies pumping the brakes on hiring. Many HR strategies for 2023 focus on cutting costs and retaining current employees to curb economic uncertainty and avoid…
Alaska’s highest court affirmed the denial of workers’ comp benefits for a school nurse who alleged that she suffered from PTSD after unsuccessful attempts to resuscitate a choking student. In 2014, an elementary school student ran into the school nurse’s…
Pre-pandemic times are a lot different than now. Perhaps the biggest change is the attitude around commuting and in-office work. Daily commutes and everything that dreaded drive brings along with it – from gas money to wasted time sitting in…
Picture this: You make arrangements for new employee training that aligns with your company's diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. But one employee objects to the "woke" training and asks for an exemption on religious grounds. How do you properly…
Courts understand personal judgment calls play a role in deciding about a promotion. But here’s one key thing to remember: If you’re sued for bias, a court deciding if the candidate has a leg to stand on will likely want…
A new resource document from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) provides valuable guidance relating to job applicants and employees with hearing disabilities. The guidance explains how employers can steer clear of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) violations and offers…
The doctors who see your people would rather proactively treat disease than wait for symptoms to cause an ER visit. The term for it is upstream health care. Because this approach can decrease hospital admissions and re-admissions and healthcare costs,…
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a law that requires private companies in Illinois to provide workers with paid leave for any reason – with limited exceptions. The passage of the Paid Leave for All Workers Act (PLFAW) makes Illinois the third…
As the opioid epidemic continues to take a grim toll, workplace issues relating to opioid use remain more likely to arise. For HR pros, missteps in handling these issues can result in hefty payouts. Here is a case in point:…
If you need another reason to reduce turnover, consider this: Recruitment may cost more than you think, with employers spending at least $889 filling just one position, according to Bluecrew research. The hidden cost of recruitment Between job postings, background…
The scope of the duty to provide religious accommodation to employees may well expand in 2023. On Jan. 13, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a case involving a Christian mail carrier who resigned after being told he would…
Finding a school district failed to prove a fired teacher committed willful misconduct, a Pennsylvania court affirmed a ruling that determined the teacher was not ineligible for unemployment compensation (UC). The school district in this case had an employee code…
Race bias claims can be based on inadequate training, a new ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit says. In this case, however, the employee lost his race bias claim because he did not prove his…
It’s no secret that hiring is tough right now. It’s a balancing act between offering competitive benefits and compensation while trying to safeguard your business against economic uncertainty. Despite the recruiting challenges right now, the hiring landscape continues to evolve.…
