The WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) Act is a federal law that requires certain employers to provide notice to employees in the event of a plant closing or mass layoff. The purpose of the law is to provide workers with enough time to prepare for...
Common Issues Related to Social Media that Affect HR Compliance
The impact of social media on HR compliance can be significant. Social media has revolutionized the way people communicate and interact, and this has led to new challenges for HR professionals who are responsible for maintaining compliance with various laws and...
Accommodating Employees with Hearing Conditions in the Workplace
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a person with a hearing condition has a disability if their hearing impairment substantially limits one or more major life activities. Major life activities include, but are not limited to, hearing, speaking,...
If You Have to Terminate an Employee, Document Everything!
As every HR department knows, terminating employees is not a pleasant process, but it is a very important one and cannot be taken lightly. There are a variety of reasons why employees are terminated, but regardless of the basis for the decision, it is crucial that...
The FTC’s New Proposed Rule Would Ban Non-Compete Agreements
Approximately 18% of all employees in the United States are covered by some type of non-compete agreement, which is a contract that prevents employees form working for competitors after their current employment ends. These agreements are usually limited in time and...
How to Prevent Unconscious Bias in Hiring and Recruitment
With increased efforts toward diversity and inclusion in the workplace, many employers are looking for ways to rid their hiring and recruitment processes of any form of discrimination. Some are taking proactive measures to lure more diverse applicants. While others...
How Employers Can Address Bias Against AAPI Employees
In the wake of recent violence in California against Asian Americans, as well as a current study that showed many Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) employees fear for their safety in the workplace, it is important for HR Departments to consider how...
What All Businesses Need to Know About OSHA’s Severe Violator List
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, is a federal agency created to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. Falling under the Department of Labor, OSHA has been around since the 1970s. Although sometimes seen as demanding, OSHA’s...
Does FMLA Leave Count Towards an Employee’s Accrued PTO?
The answer depends on an employer’s policies. The FMLA does not require employers to allow PTO to accrue while an employee is on FMLA leave. However, the federal law does require that any benefits the employee would have earned during the leave period must still be...