Human Resources

By Kathryn Mayer   As pay transparency becomes more and more mainstream, research indicates employers with transparent pay practices can benefit by attracting potential employees. But what about current employees? New research finds that pay transparency can help retain them, too. Pay transparency decreases intent to quit by 30 percent when analyzed in isolation, according...

By Allen Smith, J.D.   The Form I-9 was born in 1986 but still creates tension between business needs and legal requirements, particularly with remote hires, said John Fay, an attorney and director of product strategy at Equifax Workforce Solutions in Phoenix. I-9 audits by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are another pain point....

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...