The holiday season brings us many joys: glittering lights, warm cocoa, and the ever-watchful presence of the Elf on the Shelf. This tiny elf has something in common with another entity that keeps us on our toes all year round – Human Resources. Let's see who does the job better!

The hybrid work model – splitting time between home and office – has become a mainstay for many organizations since the global pandemic. According to ADP research, hybrid work is thriving, with employees who split their time between home and office 1.7 times more likely to be engaged than on-site staff and 1.9 times more engaged than fully remote employees. However, this evolving approach has its challenges. 

Michigan is not alone with its paid sick time law. As you wrestle to prepare a new policy to meet Michigan’s Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA), take heart that currently there are16 other states as well as the District of Columbia that require employers to provide some form of paid sick leave to their employees.

Employers are increasingly grappling with the complexities of pay transparency as it reshapes recruitment, retention, and workplace equity. Recent studies from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis indicate that pay disclosure in job postings is growing, partly due to new legislation requiring employers to disclose pay ranges. However, pay disclosure is also expanding in areas where it is not mandated, suggesting that employers are embracing this change in response to unique challenges and...

The Illinois Equal Pay Act (the "Act") is officially going live January 1, 2025.  It was passed in 2023 and amended several times. Employers in Illinois with 15 or more employees will be required to include pay and benefit information in all job postings both external and internal.    The following are specific provisions that must be complied with:

AI to make organizations more diamond-shaped: As generative AI begins taking hold in business, who does what work and how organizations will be structured will inevitably change, particularly at the leadership and management levels, according to a new survey from Capgemini in which 1,500 managers from 500 organizations and 15 countries participated. 

2024 has quietly become a year of notable strides for female leaders, even if the headlines don’t immediately reflect it. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal reveals progress that could shape the future of leadership for women.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in Nebraska v. Su, No. 23-15179 (9th Cir. Nov. 5, 2024) that the president lacks authority under the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to set a federal contractor minimum wage.  Initially, Arizona, Nebraska, Idaho, Indiana, and South Carolina brought suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona challenging enforcement of the contractor minimum wage. The district court had dismissed the suit...

Last month the Federal Court in East Texas vacated the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) salary level test regulations. This DOL rule had moved the weekly salary level test to $844/week ($43,888/yr.) as of July 1^st this year and had scheduled a second increase that would have taken the salary level test up to $1,128/week or $58,656/yr. on January 1, 2025.

Imposter syndrome is a widespread issue affecting workplaces, with recent data from The Executive Development Network revealing that it impacts nearly half of all adults. This psychological pattern, marked by persistent self-doubt and a fear of being exposed as a fraud, can hinder an individual’s job performance and emotional well-being.

Human Resources teams are feeling the strain of managing an increasingly digital workforce, compounded by the rapid adoption of AI-driven technologies. A recent report from aconso, Transitioning from Manual to Meaningful: Unlocking HR’s Potential through AI and Digital Transformation, sheds light on the challenges facing HR leaders and their plans to address them. The findings, based on a survey of 650 senior HR leaders, highlight a landscape where technology roadblocks and complex...

Engineers are scarce:  Nearly a million engineering roles were advertised across the country in August, according to RS, a product and service provider for industrial customers, placing engineering among the top ten most in-demand professions. But the profession has a dearth of new, incoming talent.

Last Friday, President Elect Trump nominated Lori Chavez-DeRemer for the position of U.S. Department of Labor Secretary.  Ms. Chavez-DeRemer is a Republican from Oregon who recently lost her seat in the House of Representatives, representing a district that includes part of Portland, Oregon. She previously was mayor of Happy Valley, a Portland suburb.  She was a one-term congressperson.

 

A Code of Conduct is essential for organizations to establish a framework of ethical behavior and compliance expectations for employees. It serves to promote integrity, transparency, and accountability, guiding employees in their decision-making and actions. A well-crafted Code of Conduct can mitigate risks, enhance organizational culture, and foster trust among stakeholders. Key components typically include sections on ethical behavior, compliance with laws, conflict of interest, reporting...

Every generation enters the workforce with its unique characteristics, shaped by distinct experiences and societal shifts. When the youngest members of society step into their professional roles, there’s often a period of adjustment as they and their employers navigate differences in expectations, communication styles, and work habits. For Gen Z—those born between 1997 and 2012—this transition has proven to be particularly rocky.

Two National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decisions earlier this month continue the Biden Administration’s and the NLRB’s war against employer rights. The NLRB held in Amazon.com Services LLC (11/13/24) that employers violate worker rights when they require employees to attend meetings (even while being paid) to hear the employer’s side in a union organizing campaign. The second anti-employer decision the NLRB handed down this month held that employers commit an unfair...

Following an instructional design model is the best way to ensure that everything is included in training for effective knowledge transfer. ADDIE is an acronym that stands for Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation – the elements of a training class you must encounter with each class you design.

Gen Zers want more training opportunities: According to new research from Udemy, a workforce training platform, based on responses from more than 6,500 multigenerational workers, 65% of Gen Z are highly motivated by professional development, besting millennials and Gen X. The rise of generative AI has caused Gen Z to get serious about upskilling, underscoring their professional drive.

Stressful situations often cloud our judgment, making it challenging to make thoughtful decisions. While we can’t always avoid stress, we can use strategies to cut through the mental fog and think more clearly. Below are five practical methods I found on FastCompany.com to help you navigate high-pressure moments with clarity and confidence. 

As we approach December and the holiday season many companies start planning how they will celebrate with their employees. So as an employer, what are your options? Some may choose to forgo the holiday party and use the budget or funds to distribute bonuses to employees. This may be a great option if you have employees with vastly different schedules or remote employees in different locations. Others may choose to offer more paid time off around the holidays so employees can spend time with...

On Friday the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas struck down the Department of Labor’s 2024 Exempt Employee Salary Level test (White-Collar tests) which had increased the salary level to $844/week ($43,888/yr) in July of this year with a scheduled second increase to $1,128/week ($58,656/yr) January 1, 2025. This ruling returns the salary level test to the level it was before July 1st – $684/week ($35,568/yr). 

A recent TalentLMS survey reveals a concerning gap in leadership development. While organizations face a growing need for effective leaders, their efforts to nurture leadership capabilities appear to be falling short.

For many in HR today, artificial intelligence (AI) is mainly utilized in the recruiting sphere.  From chat boxes, video interviews, and resume assessment to candidate resume creation, AI is becoming a staple in the recruitment area.  However, AI could upend the compensation and labor markets through pricing algorithms.  For example, in the IC market for Uber drivers, algorithms are used to determine peak pricing and control ride share costs.  Therefore, Uber driver...

How much time do you waste in a week? Organizations are losing an average of $15,138.03 per employee annually due to unnecessary tasks, according to a new report from Wrike.

While employees have signaled in various surveys this year that they generally prefer not to discuss politics at work, the intensity of the current election and its results may inevitably lead to workplace conversations. This election resulted in high emotions for many.