Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
In part one of this article, we probed the fast rise of the “hybrid office” trend, as more companies—with an eye toward greater innovation and productivity—shift their focus away from “open” floor plans in favor of a mix of work areas that better meet employee needs.
It’s no secret that for years, “open” office spaces dominated current workspace trends. Companies of all sizes had shunned the so-called “cube farm” cubicle culture and flocked instead to the space-saving, minimalist floor plans to boost employee collaboration, engagement, and productivity.
We are in an age when employers are waking up to the fact that pay and bonuses, while necessary, are only the basics that are needed to retain your workforce. To really inspire motivation, it is widely agreed by psychologists and experts (not to mention popularized in numerous TEDTalks) that the best way is to […]
What if an employee complains about harassment, but you investigate and find no evidence of harassment? Or, what if an employee files a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleging discrimination, but the EEOC also does not find any wrongdoing? Can you fire either of these employees for making false claims?
Employers are in a delicate situation when an employee needs to take bereavement leave—not only must they deal very sensitively with the employee who has suffered a loss, but they also must be sure to handle the situation in a way that is both fair (to all employees) and flexible (since each situation may be […]
The federal law on deductions from pay contains few restrictions when compared to the laws in many states. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), almost any deduction is permitted, even, in some cases, if it reduces the employee’s pay below the minimum wage. Certain deductions may specifically reduce pay below the minimum.
“Who gives [an expletive] about an Oxford comma?” muses the band Vampire Weekend in a hit song. After a recent decision from the 1st Circuit (which covers Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island), I’m sure Oakhurst Dairy cares about the issue quite a bit.
“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” Michael Jordan wasn’t talking here about retirement, and in fact, we don’t know that he ever has. But his words can certainly apply to the subject. In today’s world, each individual must take charge of his or her own retirement. Still, there are many ways others […]
With low unemployment comes an increasing risk of turnover—and this makes employers weary in times when the economy is growing but not skyrocketing. Employers today are facing these risks and trying to determine how to keep employees happy and motivated—and keep them from job searching in their spare time. Some employers are opting to provide […]
A New Jersey federal court recently granted an employer’s motion for summary judgment (dismissal without a trial) on a group of financial advisers’ overtime claims, finding they were properly classified as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and its New Jersey counterpart.