Human Resources

Bringing in a third party for background checks is like outsourcing your detective work—it has its perks. These specialized firms are like the Sherlock Holmes of the hiring world. Here’s why it might be a good idea: Expertise: Background check companies are pros at this. They know where to look, what to look for, and...

Picture this: A small tech startup with big dreams, fueled by passion and innovation. They found the perfect candidate to lead their development team—an impressive resume, a charismatic interviewee, and a vision that aligned perfectly with the company’s goals.   Excitement filled the air as they welcomed their new leader with open arms, bypassing the...

By Allen Smith, J. D.   During the present surge in COVID-19 cases due to the variant called JN.1, employers must decide whether to let sick employees work from home, even as more employers are asking staff to return to work in the office. Whether to give employees with COVID-19 such flexibility can be a close...

By Kathryn Mayer   Economic concerns are pushing some employers to think more conservatively about raises next year compared with this year. But overall, employers are reaching their 2024 salary consensus, and it’s a good one for employees: They will be handing out competitive pay bumps, especially as their workforce continues to grapple with high...

By Kathy Gurchiek   Generative artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT, was all the buzz in 2023 as employers and workers tried to figure out how the new technology could help them better perform their jobs. What does AI have in store for workplaces and HR? Experts offered the following AI predictions for 2024. “AI is...

By Katie Navarra   In the course of just a few days, Kristi Safranek, the director of human resources at Lawrence County Memorial Hospital in Illinois, had one team member who had to arrange hospice care for their mother and then learned their son was in a nearly deadly car accident. The stress of either event...

By Paul Falcone   Managers have been well-trained on what discrimination, retaliation, harassment and bullying look and feel like in the workplace. But “reverse bullying” often gets short shrift, even though it is just as real. Subordinates have been known to “intimidate upward,” making their managers afraid to hold them directly accountable for their actions....

By Kathryn Mayer   The holidays aren’t all parties and presents or candy canes and champagne. For workers, this time of year—brimming with looming end-of-year deadlines, financial and social obligations, and more—can cause a serious decline in mental well-being. Research from jobs site Monster finds the majority of U.S. workers (61 percent) say their mental...

By Kathryn Mayer   Since  blockbuster GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy burst on the scene as a weight-loss aid phenomenon, employers have been mulling whether or not to cover their costs for employees. Now a new survey of employers reveals just how many are covering these drugs for weight loss—and how much they are paying....