When we picture a strong leader, we often imagine someone decisive, visionary, and commanding. Yet some of the most respected executives built their impact through their ability to listen, learn, and elevate others.

For decades, employee engagement has been anchored in a simple idea: people want to feel valued and connected at work. Leaders built programs around recognition and belonging, which were recognized as the key motivators driving performance and retention. But recent research from Perceptyx analyzing over 20 million employee responses over 10 years shows a dramatic shift. In 2025, the traditional drivers of engagement – belonging and feeling valued – dropped to the bottom of the...

Cold and flu season is an unwelcome but predictable reality in the workplace. As illnesses spread, is it possible that cold and flu diagnoses could qualify for FMLA?

Many employers use background checks as part of the pre-employment screening process, and those who don’t should. If an issue arises, such as an employee physically harming another employee or a customer, a lawsuit may follow. If the employer failed to conduct a background check, they can be held liable for damages due to negligent hiring.

An Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRA) is a type of employer-funded health benefit plan that allows an employer to reimburse employees for qualified medical expenses, including some or all of the premiums for individual-market health insurance coverage (or Medicare, if the person is Medicare-eligible), as well as the cost of out-of-pocket medical expenses.  It is similar to a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) but has a broader application.

USERRA leave to be treated like any other leave: An $18.5 million settlement in Huntsman v. Southwest Airlines Co. represents the largest USERRA class action recovery reported to date and signals a significant shift in how employers approach paid short-term military leave when other comparable short leaves (e.g., jury duty, bereavement) are paid.

So, your organization is growing? That’s great and something most organizations plan for; however, this accompanies legal requirements that creep up often faster than leaders expect. Employment laws, benefits requirements, and reporting obligations are frequently triggered by employee count, making growth an exciting but risky phase if compliance isn’t planned for in advance. Understanding which requirements apply at each stage of growth allows employers to prepare, avoid costly...

It happens. An employee is accused of sexual harassment and an investigation follows. Word spreads. Initial findings appear to support the claim, but later evidence emerges – voicemail messages of the accuser telling the accused they couldn’t wait to meet at their usual motel, explicit sexts from the accuser to the accused, or even on-the-record, sworn admissions by the accuser that the relationship was consensual and the allegations were false.

Something is shifting in the employment law landscape and it’s happening faster than many HR teams realize. Over the past year and into 2025, there’s clear evidence that discrimination charge activity at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) remains elevated and evolving.

I once worked with a manufacturing firm that relied heavily on a temporary-to-hire model for its hourly workforce. Despite offering market-competitive wages, comfortable working conditions, and a clear opportunity for full-time employment within a few months, the organization struggled with persistent temporary employee turnover.

Does it ever feel like sometimes your manager is present, but not really present? Meetings happen, emails are sent, but lately their engagement seems to have taken a backseat? You may suspect your boss is quietly checking out, known as quiet quitting, but that doesn’t mean your career has to stall. In fact, this can be your moment to step up.

UIA announces new MiUI launch date: The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) announced the new date for the launch of MiUI, the new UI tax and benefits system that will replace the Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM).    After postponing the initial launch of the system to ensure its functionality, the new launch date for MiUI will be Monday, February 23, 2026. Make sure your company is ready to use the new system for UI tax payments and registrations by that date.

TROY, MI – February 10, 2026 --- ASE, one of the nation’s oldest and largest employer associations, has announced a strategic partnership with BEVEL to bring an innovative homeownership benefit to our member employers and their workforce.

 

Early mornings are when I do my best thinking and feel most energized. For years, I valued that time, but I did not always use it with intention. Reading The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma helped me put structure around something I was already doing and showed me how powerful the first hour of the day can be when it is used deliberately.

A Trump Account is now available for children under 18 years old and can be used as a tax savings vehicle by parents.  For a child to be eligible, they must be under 18 years old and have a social security number.  It is similar to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) but for minors.