Human Resources

By Leah Shepherd   A new ruling from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) alters the standard employers must use to determine whether someone qualifies as an independent contractor. In the June 13 ruling, the board concluded that the makeup artists, wig artists and hairstylists who work at the Atlanta Opera are employees, not independent contractors....

By Allen Smith, J.D.   The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced in the spring regulatory agenda that it will issue the proposed overtime rule in August. But regulatory agendas are the agencies’ predictions of when rules will be issued and aren’t set in stone. The DOL has been announcing the release of a proposed overtime...

Clear communication is essential for effective management and fostering a positive work environment. Here are some tips for improving communication with your employees: Be transparent: Share information openly and honestly with your employees. Keep them informed about company updates, goals, and any changes that may affect them. Transparency builds trust and helps employees feel more...

By Kathryn Mayer   A growing number of private employers—including Allstate, Target, KPMG and Nike—are recognizing Juneteenth as a company holiday as employers eye diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) efforts in their benefits strategies. Nearly 4 in 10 employers (39 percent) now offer June 19 as a paid holiday, according to new data from Mercer. That’s up...

There are many different types of employment applications. Your first step is to ensure the application is not asking questions that could get you in trouble. Second, you want to make sure you are gathering enough information to make a sound decision on whether you want to pursue the applicant. You neither want to waste...

My first response is always, document, document, document. It is so important to document any issues involving employees so that should any of the issues escalate to termination, you have the proof you would need to defend your actions. I’ve gotten so many calls regarding the need to terminate an individual, but they are in...

The IRS sets the guidelines on who is considered an employee (receives a W-2) and a contractor (receives a 1099). Employers need to make sure they have properly classified these individuals because the government is coming down hard on violators.   It’s important to understand that a contractor is not an employee. They don’t receive...

My first response is always: Document, document, document. It is so important to document any issues involving employees so that, should any of the issues escalate to termination, you have the proof you would need to defend your actions. I’ve gotten so many calls regarding the need to terminate an individual, but they are in...

By Allen Smith, J. D. Quiet quitting remains prevalent, but employers should look for underlying causes rather than assuming employees are lazy, said James Reidy, an attorney with Sheehan Phinney in Manchester, N.H. Speaking Feb. 27 at the SHRM Employment Law & Compliance Conference 2023, he noted that the underlying causes for employees who work just...

By Theresa Agovino After an annual review that lasted about 10 minutes, a New Jersey-based account coordinator knew it was time to leave the public relations agency where he had worked for almost a year. The 25-year-old, who requested anonymity, asked for the meeting because his boss had not mentioned any formal assessment process, nor...