Archive for February 2021
Doctor’s Note Failed to Prove Worker’s Disability, Court Finds
A doctor’s note about a worker’s physical limitations couldn’t prove the worker had a disability because the doctor had not been properly identified as an expert witness, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled (Tesone v. Empire Marketing Strategies, No. 20-1093 (10th Cir., Feb. 5, 2021)). Empire, a marketing company, assigned a worker to…
Read MoreOverworked Leaders, High-Potential Employees are Looking to Make an Exit, Report Finds
In the past year, the global coronavirus pandemic and economic crisis have caused leader burnout at increasing rates and many are eyeing the door, according to the Global Leadership Forecast 2021 released Feb. 17. A survey conducted by global leadership consulting firm DDI found that a lack of confidence in company leadership may result in retention…
Read MoreCOVID-19-Related Employment Litigation Affecting Manufacturing Industry
Manufacturing employers probably will continue to see an increase in COVID-19-related litigation affecting the industry. Keeping up with recent trends in COVID-19-related litigation can help manufacturers ensure compliance with the common bases of alleged violations. Nationwide, manufacturers have seen one to seven new COVID-19-related employment complaint filings a week since the beginning of April 2020.…
Read More‘Just Going Through the Motions’: Employers Fail to Make DEI a Business Function, Report Finds
The most effective way to advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is by making the practice a business function — not HR programming, a Feb. 16 report by Josh Bersin analysts found. HR programs can add value when the business “has the right focus,” the report found. About 76% of companies have no diversity or…
Read MoreUSERRA Sometimes Requires Paid Leave for Reservists, 7th Cir. Rules
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) requires employers to provide short-term paid leave to military reservists to the same extent they provide paid leave for other absences such as jury duty, according to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (White v. United Airlines, Inc. and United Continental Holdings, Inc., No. 19-2546…
Read MoreThree Simple Rules for Easy, Transparent, Positive Performance Discussions
Have you ever dreaded having a conversation with an employee who wasn’t meeting performance expectations? Maybe you avoided it, hoping it would improve on its own? If so, you are not alone. Most managers would agree that one of their least favorite tasks is talking to an employee about poor performance. When performance conversations are…
Read MoreUnder the Biden Administration, Turbulence Awaits Employers at the NLRB
President Joe Biden wasted little time in making his mark on the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB” or “the Board”) – a development of import to all employers, as the law it enforces, the National Labor Relations Act, protects the rights of all employees, not just union members, to engage in concerted activity regarding the…
Read MoreHR Leaders May Overlook Their Own Burnout in Efforts to Support Employees
2020 may have been one of the most stressful years on record for HR — but a change in approach could keep pros on track, according to a recent report. Employee burnout is top of mind for many employers as the pandemic continues into 2021. Building resilience in workforces, especially during a crisis, includes both mental health…
Read MoreTransparency in Gender Equity Reporting on the Rise
As more companies work toward gender equality, transparency in reporting and disclosure of social data may be on the rise. A record number of companies disclosed their data for this year’s Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI), according to a report released Jan. 27. GEI companies had a 94% disclosure score on average, according to Bloomberg. However, the data…
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