The Michigan Supreme Court ruled last Friday that the friends of an employee who also work at the same place are protected from retaliation by the employer.  Following similar protections found under the federal civil rights act under Title VII, the Michigan Court found that Michigan’s Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act also permits workers to bring third party, or associational, retaliation claims if they think the employer targeted them to punish a coworker for bringing a claim...

As part of the requirements under Executive Order 14110, which called for U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Labor, to publish guidance for Federal contractors on the use of AI relating to nondiscrimination in employment decisions, the OFCCP released their guidance along with a landing page for the use of AI systems.  Although various pundits disagree as to the legality of the guidance, the guidance itself does not state anything that would be unexpected in the new AI...

Organizations can improve the work-life balance of their employees by training line managers in work-life support. This training reduces burnout in employees who have little control of when or where they work and increases family engagement of employees who have high work-life flexibility.

Each state has their own share of employment related laws in addition to federal regulations that business owners need to be aware of. Whether you're a small startup or a large corporation, understanding and adhering to Michigan’s employment laws is paramount to mitigating legal risks and fostering a fair and equitable workplace.

No one likes to waste time.  If there is anything we’ve all learned from the Covid-19 crisis, it is that time is very valuable, and in business, that means MONEY.  It also may shock some of you to know that even training professionals don’t like wasting time.  We look for ways in which we can train your employees as fast as possible with the best results possible.  This, for us in the industry, is called Knowledge Transfer.  In other words, how do we make...

Could the FLSA regulations be delayed? Unlikely, but in a letter sent to Jessica Looman, Wage and Hour Division Administrator, the Partnership to Protect Workplace Opportunity (PPWO), along with 87 other organizations, the agency was asked to delay to at least September 1, 2024, implementation of the first minimum salary threshold increase applicable under the final rule published on April 26, 2024 that alters the overtime regulations under the FLSA.

Generation Z—those individuals born between 1997 and 2012 (ages 12-27)-—are rapidly becoming a substantial fraction of the workforce, predicted to account for over a quarter of all workers by 2025. Despite their increasing numbers, there is a notable gap in effectively understanding and integrating the unique attributes of Gen Z into today’s workplace environments, often posing a challenge to managers.

Over the weekend I came across an article in the Labor Union News entitled "UAW Involvement and Support in Pro-Palestinian Protests Raises Question.” The gist of the article was that the UAW may be supporting at least some of the pro-Palestinian protests causing problems at many universities right now.

To test whether employers discriminate against job applicants based on perceived race based on names, economists with the University of California Berkeley and University of Chicago sent out about 80,000 fabricated resumes to 97 large employers using equivalent qualifications but different personal characteristics during the period of 2019-2021. They changed applicants’ names to suggest that they were white or Black, and male or female — Latisha or Amy, Lamar or Adam.

In an era where diversity is celebrated, the contributions of neurodiverse and disabled individuals often remain overlooked. Yet, their unique perspectives offer untapped potential for businesses. The unemployment rate for these workers is around 30-40% leaving many looking for meaningful work. In this article, we explore the benefits, strategies, and resources for inclusive hiring practices of this incredible talent pool.

A recent report from People Element reveals that employee engagement levels have returned to pre-pandemic levels. The 2024 Employee Engagement Report details the drivers of employee engagement and shares insights on how to inspire employees and improve performance.

Salary budget to come in at 3.6% per Mercer: Employers trimmed the average increase in salary budgets this year to 3.6% from projections in November of 3.8% as they saw more stability compared with the job churning during the pandemic period’s “Great Resignation,” Mercer said. 

Last week the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published a final rule banning employer noncompete agreements. Noncompete agreements or clauses per the FTC are a “term or condition of employment  that prohibits a worker from, penalizes a worker for, or prevents a worker from (1) seeking or accepting work in the United States with a different person where such work would begin after the conclusion of the employment that includes the term or condition; or (2) operating a business in...

Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour announced a final rule, Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales, and Computer Employees, which will take effect on July 1, 2024. The final rule increases the standard salary level and the total annual compensation requirement for highly compensated employees (HCE).   It will have major implications for employers – especially those who have employees in other states...

Earlier this week, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) published final guidance on harassment in the workplace, “Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace.” The guidance will help people feel safe on the job and assist employers in creating respectful workplaces.

For the first time in nearly four decades, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has ushered in significant revisions to regulations governing the Davis-Bacon Act (DBA) and its associated statutes, affecting federal wage regulations applicable to contractors and subcontractors engaged in most government construction projects. These changes, collectively referred to as the DBRA, are aimed at enhancing clarity and consistency in administering and enforcing DBRA regulations.

Spring has sprung and hopefully all the April showers will bring May flowers. This is a good time for companies to “spring clean” their documents, processes, and procedures, particularly those that are part of background checks.

Will AI rule the hiring process?  A Zippia survey of senior HR professionals found 96% predict AI will improve talent acquisition. AI can sort through hundreds of applicants in minutes and match skill sets, education, and experience.

McKinsey Health Institute recently conducted a study on the effect of toxic workplaces and how they affect employees. They talked to nearly 15,000 employees and 1,000 HR decision-makers across 15 different countries. Toxic workplace behavior stood out as the primary catalyst for negative employee outcomes, such as burnout and the desire to quit.

Employee turnover, the process where employees leave their positions and are replaced by new hires, holds significant implications for businesses. Excessive turnover can disrupt workflow, hinder productivity, and incur substantial costs associated with recruitment and training.

As we wrote about last week, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released its final rules implementing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). The final rules provide some important definitions to understand.

Upskilling and reskilling have become a key objective for today’s workforce. Technological advancements, demographic shifts, and the ever-changing economic landscape demand a workforce that is adaptable, agile, and equipped with the latest skills. As businesses strive to stay competitive and individuals seek to future-proof their careers, the need for continuous learning has never been more crucial for both employers and employees.

In a unanimous 9-0 decision, a case decided last week changed the scope of how to view discriminatory actions of job or lateral transfers which seemingly have little to no impact on the employment opportunities of an employee.  Muldrow v. City of St. Louis No. 22-193 (2024) out of the 8th Circuit, asked the question: “Does Title VII prohibit discrimination in transfer decisions absent a separate court determination that the transfer decision caused a significant...

Employee engagement at its lowest level since 2013:  Last year, Gallup found U.S. employees were increasingly detached from their employers, with the workforce reporting less role clarity, lower satisfaction with their organizations, and less connection to their companies’ mission or purpose.

Rapid advancement in AI has organizations either ignoring the technology or rushing to implement it for a competitive advantage. However, implementing AI without proper guidelines regulating its use and adoption exposes organizations to risks that negatively impact organizational outcomes. Avoid adverse organizational outcomes by collaborating with organizational leaders to develop responsible AI guiding principles.