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Jul 14, 2020
?Troubling economic conditions brought on by the pandemic have led to record numbers of employee layoffs and furloughs this year. Employees—including those who work in HR—who strongly sense they may soon be terminated may try to get ahead of that decision by choosing to resign or be fired. This decision can impact their careers for years to come, say career advisors.
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Jul 13, 2020
More than 20 states now require people to wear masks in certain circumstances, and some business groups and worker advocates say that state and local leaders are not doing enough to enforce the mandates, which are meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
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Jul 13, 2020
Who decides whether California-based drivers for Lyft, Uber and other app-based companies are employees or independent contractors? A commissioner for the state's Public Utilities Commission recently weighed in on the contentious issue.
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Jul 13, 2020
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed an emergency ordinance creating a right of reemployment for certain employees laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Jul 13, 2020
On July 1, as a result of rapid increases in the number of COVID-19 cases throughout California, Gov. Gavin Newsom instructed businesses in 19 counties across the state to roll back their reopenings for at least three weeks.
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Jul 13, 2020
During a time of crisis, businesses can use their rewards programs to enhance employee and organizational resiliency—the ability to bounce back from personal and companywide setbacks.
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Jul 13, 2020
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has stopped seeking double damages—referred to as liquidated damages—in many cases that it settles before suing.
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Jul 12, 2020
As the coronavirus pandemic continues and some states slow their plans to reopen, many small businesses must rely on Paycheck Protection Program loans to keep workers on board. Lawmakers recently extended the application deadline and gave borrowers more flexibility when using the funds.
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Jul 12, 2020
In this article, professor Stephanie Creary brings together more than a decade's worth of insights on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, Black employees' experiences and a framework she developed to propose how company leaders—particularly people managers—who are well-positioned to support Black employees might all leap to become better allies in DEI work.
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Jul 12, 2020
The United States and China signed a historic trade agreement in January 2020, which included provisions on respecting intellectual property rights and enforcement against misappropriation of trade secrets and confidential business information. But many experts are skeptical about the agreement will be honored. The FBI has more than 1,000 intellectual property theft cases open involving individuals associated with China. Those thefts have cost the United States nearly $500 billion a year, experts say.
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Jul 10, 2020
?For many HR professionals at small businesses, the past few months have been like trudging through a hurricane with a leaky umbrella. Out of that madness, many HR professionals have emerged as essential members of the executive team, working on the top questions of the day.
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Jul 10, 2020
What are the signs of employee burnout, and how can managers help employees deal with the stress they're feeling?
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Jul 10, 2020
Federal workers can revoke their union membership and stop paying dues any time after the first year under a Federal Labor Relations Authority final rule.
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Jul 10, 2020
Employers may absolutely require workers to wear masks. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission states employers can require employees to wear masks or other protective clothing, such as gloves and gowns, during a pandemic.
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Jul 10, 2020
?Employee empowerment is a management philosophy that emphasizes the importance of giving employees the autonomy, resources and support they need to act independently and be held accountable for the decisions they make.
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Jul 09, 2020
A registered nurse who sued the hospital where she had worked for failure to provide meal and rest periods, among other claims, could not go forward with her lawsuit, a California appellate court ruled.
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Jul 09, 2020
A California appeals court upheld a lower court's award of almost $3 million to a city police officer who had dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
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Jul 09, 2020
The IRS recently issued additional guidance on the eased rules for hardship withdrawals that 401(k) and similar defined contribution retirement plans can put in place under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, enacted in March. New data show, however, that an expected surge in plan withdrawals hasn't happened.
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Jul 09, 2020
The Ontario government has temporarily changed its employment standards legislation to help employers avoid laying off employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Jul 09, 2020
States reported that 1.3 million U.S. workers filed for new unemployment benefits during the week ending July 4. First-time claims have fallen for 14 straight weeks since hitting a record 6.8 million in late March. The total number of workers continuing to claim unemployment benefits dropped to 18 million last week after peaking at nearly 25 million in early May. Another 14 million people continue to claim unemployment under the newly created Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program providing jobless benefits to workers previously not eligible for unemployment.
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Jul 09, 2020
Across the world, managers and HR professionals are trying to figure out how to balance the needs of the organization with the needs of the staff against the backdrop of changing coronavirus data and related rules and regulations. Often, they regard their self-care as secondary to the help they provide the people they serve. Take some time to take care of yourself, too.
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Jul 09, 2020
Don't panic when the HR department is understaffed, whether due to summer vacations, unfilled positions or team members working fewer hours as they wrestle with child care or illness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some tips to lead your team through the strain.
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Jul 09, 2020
It's better for people of different races to talk about their different experiences than to avoid difficult discussions, says columnist Jathan Janove. By sharing our stories and backgrounds, we build trust and understanding. A bond forms that would not otherwise exist.
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Jul 08, 2020
?The killing of George Floyd in June has sparked social unrest around the country, and many employees are expecting organizations to speak up—and to speak out—against racism.
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Jul 08, 2020
Managers may find themselves dealing with resentment between employees who are allowed to continue working remotely and those who are being told they can't any longer. Point out safety efforts at the worksite and benefits that can help with stress and anxiety.
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Jul 08, 2020
Collaboration between facilities managers and HR wellness leaders can be vital to ensuring workplaces are safe as employees return to work.
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Jul 08, 2020
If your company is stepping up to condemn racism and discrimination and to reduce bias in hiring, don't frame it as something the company "has to do." Falsely labeling diversity efforts as charity or compulsion will only further divisions between employees. Here are some suggestions for how your team can meaningfully communicate and execute your commitment to anti-bias and dismantling racism.
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Jul 07, 2020
Facial recognition technology has been under the microscope as organizations and lawmakers re-evaluate its use in the wake of global protests about racial injustice. Technology giants Amazon, IBM and Microsoft all recently announced that they would stop selling facial recognition technology to police departments in the United States, citing the technology's potential for violating human rights and concerns about racial profiling.
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Jul 07, 2020
HR professionals know that the interviewing process can be time-consuming and costly, and there's always the risk that a candidate will accept an offer elsewhere. But 2020 brings a new concern and potential risk—that fear of COVID-19 will cause candidates to back out of the process even after an offer has been made.
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Jul 07, 2020
What can your company expect in terms of your employees' ability to travel internationally as parts of the world begin to come out of months of lockdown?
And what will the ongoing restrictions and changes in everyday life mean for your company's ability to transfer or hire new foreign national talent in key areas? Only time will tell exactly what will happen, but we are beginning to see patterns and hints of what is to come.
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Jul 07, 2020
New legislation took effect in Virginia on July 1 that prohibits employers from requiring job applicants to disclose information related to past criminal charges for simple marijuana possession. Simple possession refers to having a minimal amount of the substance for personal use without an intent to distribute it.
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Jul 07, 2020
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced on July 7 two six-month pilot programs—one for its mediation program and one for its conciliation process—to make mediation more widely available and to bring about more uniformity in conciliations.
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Jul 07, 2020
For the fall 2020 open enrollment period, during which employees will select their benefits for 2021, more employers are expected to "go virtual" by taking benefit fairs online, with cyber equivalents for vendor booths and Q&A opportunities.
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Jul 07, 2020
In an enforcement lawsuit on behalf of unpaid child workers, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) can prove wages owed based on the days and weeks that a plurality of the children claimed to have worked, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled.
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Jul 07, 2020
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a lack of sufficient notice required an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) citation and penalty to be vacated.
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Jul 07, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to plague the world, the nation and the workplace. People are tired and anxious, and it's inevitable that those frustrations and fears will make their way into the workplace.
When tempers are short, staff members become impatient with one another, and workers may become less restrained about airing their political beliefs or—worse—bullies may start to pick on and badger other workers. It's time to step in. How you step in, though, can make all the difference.
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Jul 07, 2020
At least 30 states are reporting COVID-19-related spikes in fatal opioid overdoses and heightened concern about substance use disorders, which poses a serious threat to worker safety and could cost tens of thousands in productivity losses, absenteeism, presenteeism and workers' compensation claims.
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Jul 07, 2020
Most U.S. casinos have reopened amid the COVID-19 pandemic. That's enough of a data set to see what gaming centers have done right and done wrong after opening their doors to the public again. It's also enough to provide some lessons for other businesses looking to reopen—especially those that tend to draw large numbers of people in close quarters.
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Jul 07, 2020
?Not all job postings require you to upload a cover letter, and some resume databases don't even allow it. But if you get the chance to do so, take it. Try using the executive briefing format, advises career columnist Martin Yate, to succinctly match your skills with the company's needs.
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Jul 06, 2020
In the wake of national and international protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd while in police custody, companies are revisiting their approach to diversity and inclusion (D&I) policies.
Innovative technology companies have little to show for efforts they've made in previous years to raise the number and profile of black employees at their firms.
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Jul 06, 2020
Many spouses of workers are worried when they go to worksites during the pandemic, and some employees are afraid to work onsite because they have family members who are at high risk.
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Jul 06, 2020
President Donald Trump signed a bill into law on July 4 giving small businesses that are struggling during the coronavirus crisis an additional five weeks to apply for a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program.
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Jul 06, 2020
The federal government plans to propose a rule on gig-worker classification, revise pay-data collection rules and address student workers' right to unionize, according to the spring 2020 regulatory agenda, which was issued later than expected due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Jul 06, 2020
The federal government plans to propose a rule on gig-worker classification, revise pay-data collection rules and address student workers' right to unionize, according to the spring 2020 regulatory agenda, which was issued later than expected due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Jul 06, 2020
With open enrollment for employee benefits coming up in the fall at most U.S. organizations, employers have an opportunity to reintroduce their benefit programs in ways that demonstrate how they can support workers during an unprecedented time.
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Jul 06, 2020
?More employers are considering extending work-from-home (WFH) options as coronavirus cases continue to surge in parts of the country. But how does an employer or supervisor decide who may continue working remotely and who should be at the organization's physical site?
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Jul 06, 2020
The Seattle City Council enacted an ordinance that temporarily provides paid sick and safe time to gig workers for online-based food-delivery services and drivers for transportation network companies with 250 or more gig workers worldwide.
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Jul 06, 2020
State guidance instructs Californians to wear face coverings in common and public indoor spaces, as well as outdoors when distancing is not possible.
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Jul 06, 2020
State guidance instructs Californians to wear face coverings in common and public indoor spaces, as well as outdoors when distancing is not possible.
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Jul 06, 2020
The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury issued a new set of FAQs with additional guidance on complying with coronavirus-related legislation that requires health plans to cover COVID-19 diagnostic testing without cost-sharing, prior authorization, or other medical management requirements.
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Jul 06, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic, the death of George Floyd and the subsequent social unrest have triggered fears, resentments and anxieties in many U.S. workplaces. Where does this leave the leaders of your organization as they attempt to manage staff conflict that may, at times, appear to be unreasonable and unwavering?
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Jul 05, 2020
Not surprisingly, most college students are missing out on traditional internships this year due to COVID-19. About 22 percent of employers said they were canceling internships entirely, with another 19 percent undecided as of May 1, according to the latest polling from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Employer responses showed that most (83 percent) modified their summer internship programs—instead of eliminating them—by making them virtual, shortening them or both.
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Jul 02, 2020
Some reopened worksites are temporarily shutting their doors again as a result of state orders or local spikes in COVID-19 infections. These businesses are facing tough choices over when to close in one area while remaining open elsewhere and whether to furlough or lay off employees who can't telecommute.
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Jul 02, 2020
Because only half of an employee's total permanent disability was caused by a fall at work, and the remaining half was due to degenerative conditions, a California appeals court reversed a decision by the state's workers' compensation board, which granted a 100 percent disability award.
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Jul 02, 2020
Even though an employee and employer entered into an agreement to arbitrate employment disputes, the employer's participation in proceedings before the California Labor Commissioner constituted a waiver of the employer's right to compel arbitration of the employee's claim against it, a California appellate court ruled.
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Jul 02, 2020
?As COVID-19 cases continue to surge in some states, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reiterated the importance of wearing cloth face masks to contain the virus, noting that doing so is most likely to be effective when masks are "widely used by people in public settings."
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Jul 02, 2020
U.K. employers participating in the country's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be able to start bringing furloughed employees back on a part-time basis this summer.
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Jul 01, 2020
Many HR pros act like bobbleheads within their organizations, says Steve Browne, SHRM-SCP, a director-at-large on the Society for Human Resource Management's Board of Directors and vice president of human resources at LaRosa's Inc. They nod in acceptance of senior management because they don't want to rock the boat. In an excerpt from his second book, HR Rising!! (SHRM, 2020), Browne encourages HR professionals to take more risks at work.
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Jul 01, 2020
Need time away from work to recover from COVID-19? Here's how to ask. ?SHRM President and CEO Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, is answering questions each week for a column in USA Today.
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Jul 01, 2020
?Employees spooked by continuing high unemployment are holding on to the jobs they have at rates not seen in nearly a decade. While typically a sign of employee loyalty, low turnover these days can also signal fear, hopelessness and stagnation. Employers can head off those negative feelings and maintain morale and energy in the workplace by communicating with empathy and giving employees more control over decisions, experts say.
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Jul 01, 2020
Employers are taking a number of different steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. But should they monitor their employees to see if they are adhering to social distancing while off duty? Why or why not?
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Jul 01, 2020
Experts believe that work from home—which many companies in India strictly prohibited until earlier this year—will be more common once COVID-19 is over. But how much more common is uncertain.
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Jul 01, 2020
The U.S. Department of Labor proposed new guidance that would let investment professionals who advise 401(k) plan participants, and who meet impartial conduct standards, to receive payments from the mutual funds they recommend.
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Jul 01, 2020
The U.S. economy showed positive job gains for the second straight month in June, adding 4.8 million jobs, and the unemployment rate fell to an approximate 12 percent from an adjusted 16.4 percent in May, according to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There's been a significant rebound in industries such as leisure and hospitality that once experienced the greatest job losses, as the economy slowly continues to recover.
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Jul 01, 2020
The U.S. economy showed positive job gains for the second straight month in June, adding 4.8 million jobs, and the unemployment rate fell to an approximate 12 percent from an adjusted 16.4 percent in May, according to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There's been a significant rebound in industries such as leisure and hospitality that once experienced the greatest job losses, as the economy slowly continues to recover.
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Jul 01, 2020
An offshoot of the executive search industry, recruitment research is a multistep methodology that targets desired candidates and connects them with employers using a flexible pricing model. The process is equal parts detective and skilled salesperson.
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Jul 01, 2020
?As working from home stretches into the summer and beyond at many companies, some firms are adopting interesting, innovative incentives to maintain engagement and productivity among telecommuting employees.
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Jul 01, 2020
?As some states and local areas are reopening businesses, restaurants and bars that have received a loan through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) are revamping their business model to accommodate the guidelines. Instead of bringing back a full staff at once, many restaurant owners or managers have reconstructed their employees' working hours, internal tip-pooling policies and schedules, for both the front-of-house and the back-of-house workers. It's all caused confusion for many employers and employees.
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Jun 30, 2020
Developing policies and best practices for wearing masks in the workplace can be particularly daunting as employers grapple with different regional rules and evolving federal guidelines.
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Jun 30, 2020
Department of Labor guidance clarifies that, as with school or child-care center closures, employees can request leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to care for a child due to a closed summer camp or similar program.
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Jun 30, 2020
While the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires that a disclosure of rights be provided in a separate document, it may include lines for signature and date, and be part of an application packet, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled.
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Jun 30, 2020
An oil employee who was paid a daily hitch rate while working on a rig was not paid on a "salary basis" as defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act and as such should have been eligible for overtime pay, ruled the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
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Jun 30, 2020
?President Donald Trump signed an executive order June 26 that directs the federal government to take the emphasis off whether a job candidate has a college degree and instead assess an applicant's job skills.
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Jun 30, 2020
?President Donald Trump signed an executive order June 26 that directs the federal government to take the emphasis off whether a job candidate has a college degree and instead assess an applicant's job skills.
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Jun 30, 2020
The fastest way to get your resume in front of a hiring manager is to e-mail it. Use every bit of your e-mail--including your address and subject line--to make a strong first impression, advises career columnist Martin Yate.
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Jun 29, 2020
Several Chicago McDonald's restaurants were ordered to require masks and social distancing and train managers on coronavirus-related safety measures.
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Jun 29, 2020
Although new coronavirus cases are on the decline in some states, other states have seen an uptick in cases as they begin to reopen. In response, some governors are requiring travelers from certain locations to quarantine and possibly forgo paid-sick-leave benefits.
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Jun 29, 2020
The Department of Labor (DOL) proposed a rule that would require plan sponsors to perform additional investment analysis to use environmental, social and governance (ESG) funds as investment options for 401(k) or pension plans.
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Jun 29, 2020
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued five opinion letters, including one providing analysis of the administrative exemption. The others addressed various Fair Labor Standards Act exemptions and requirements affecting salespeople.
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Jun 29, 2020
These three checklists can help employers to find and correct discriminatory language and practices in the benefit programs, following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that federal law bars discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
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Jun 29, 2020
These three checklists can help employers to find and correct discriminatory language and practices in their benefit programs, following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that federal law bars discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
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Jun 29, 2020
Ahead of the November 2020 elections, the Trump administration and Republican states want to convince the Supreme Court to find the entire Affordable Act Act (ACA) unconstitutional, while Democrats are defending the act. The court is expected to issue a ruling next year.
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Jun 29, 2020
?In recent months, a surge in activism has seen thousands standing up for causes such as Black Lives Matter or protesting COVID-19 government shutdowns. Are employees who participate risking their jobs each time they take to the streets or post politically charged comments on social media? The answer varies depending on what they do and where they work.
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Jun 26, 2020
Employers don't have a duty to bargain about certain employee disciplinary matters with a newly certified union before the first collective bargaining agreement is finalized, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) recently ruled.
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Jun 26, 2020
Two popular on-demand food delivery services have been sued in California for allegedly misclassifying delivery workers as independent contractors, in violation of state law.
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Jun 26, 2020
?Childcare shortages and concerns are complicating a return to the workplace for many parents as the coronavirus continues to spread and options remain unclear for schools, camps and daycare. There are no easy solutions on the horizon for these parents or the companies that employ them.
"We're still very much in a learning mode," said Robert A. Boonin, an employment attorney with Dykema in Detroit and Ann Arbor. "Employees and employers will be making some hard decisions in the very near future, but I don't think there's a concensus about the best way to go forward."
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Jun 26, 2020
?Childcare shortages and concerns are complicating a return to the workplace for many parents as the coronavirus continues to spread and options remain unclear for schools, camps and daycare. There are no easy solutions on the horizon for these parents or the companies that employ them.
"We're still very much in a learning mode," said Robert A. Boonin, an employment attorney with Dykema in Detroit and Ann Arbor. "Employees and employers will be making some hard decisions in the very near future, but I don't think there's a concensus about the best way to go forward."
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Jun 26, 2020
Unions with resources to increase their membership ranks have had significant organizing opportunities during the pandemic, as workers focus on safety concerns. Other unions, however, have seen their funds dry up in the recession.
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Jun 26, 2020
With many workers now remote, the traditional ways of recognizing a team may not be feasible. But don't let that deter you—you can get creative, says Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, president and chief executive officer for SHRM. Taylor answers HR questions weekly for a column in USA Today.
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Jun 25, 2020
Training, education and effective communication are key to returning employees safely to the workplace. These tips can help HR communicate with clarity and empathy about emotionally fraught return-to-work issues.
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Jun 25, 2020
The June 18 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court preserving the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program provides relief not only for the hundreds of thousands of young undocumented immigrants it covers, but also for the organizations that employ them—but only temporarily.
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Jun 25, 2020
?As they establish new policies and practices for the coronavirus age—from taking employee temperatures to requiring face masks—employers must be careful to comply with anti-discrimination and medical records laws and to offer accommodations when appropriate. Janet Dhillon, chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), answered common questions on these topics and more during a webcast conversation airing today with Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, president and chief executive officer of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
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Jun 25, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has shifted some employees to remote work permanently while others are telecommuting more frequently. Employers' wage and hour policies and enforcement should account for the rise in telework.
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Jun 25, 2020
?As protests continue around the country over racial injustice, employers may be unsure about what to do if workers are arrested. Can they enforce or relax their attendance policies, support employees who participate in protests, or monitor off-duty conduct? Here's what employment attorneys had to say.
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Jun 25, 2020
The U.S. Department of Labor is seeking input on upcoming 401(k) regulations involving pooled employer plans shared by unrelated businesses with a common administrator, and how they might run afoul of conflict-of-interest restrictions.
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Jun 25, 2020
The nature of work has changed since COVID-19 forced employers to rethink how to conduct business. #NextChat respondents share how they think work will change and the changes they hope to see.
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Jun 25, 2020
The IRS issued a proposed rule for an excise tax on the portion of pay that exceeds $1 million for each of the five highest compensated employees at a tax-exempt organization.
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Jun 25, 2020
The following is an excerpt from HR Rising!! (SHRM, 2020), the second book from Steve Browne, SHRM-SCP. Browne encourages HR professionals to show the organization why it should take a chance on them as a leader who is willing and able to work outside the too-narrowly defined boundaries of HR.
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Jun 24, 2020
Employees who fake coronavirus-related illnesses to get out of work—though doing so may be rare—could lose their jobs and cause unnecessary panic in the workplace. Employers should take each claim seriously and also have procedures in place to identify false claims.
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Jun 24, 2020
The number of workers continuing to claim unemployment benefits dipped to 19.5 million last week after peaking at nearly 25 million in early May. Another 11 million people continue to claim unemployment under the newly created Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program providing jobless benefits to workers previously not eligible for unemployment.
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