Archive for April 2023
5 Ways Employers Can Avoid ‘Quiet Quitting’ and Boost Employee Engagement
The concept of “quiet quitting”— the idea of only performing the bare minimum of the job – went viral this past year, sparking debate and taking over social media with hashtags and commentary. Yet despite its buzzword status, quiet quitting isn’t new. Employees “working for the weekend,” and the underlying issues of employee engagement, are…
Read MoreWhat’s in an Offer? Key Considerations for Drafting Effective Employment Offer Letters
An effective offer letter succinctly sets forth the material terms of an employee’s employment and makes clear that no other “unwritten” terms are part of the agreement. This article highlights a few key terms that any offer letter should address. Term Employment Versus At-Will Employment An offer letter should set forth in clear terms whether…
Read MoreSupreme Court Hears Oral Argument on Title VII Religious Accommodation Standard
On April 18, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in Groff v. DeJoy, a case raising the issue of how great a burden an employer must bear in order to accommodate an employee’s religious belief or practices. By way of background, Title VII, as adopted in 1964, prohibits discrimination on the basis of…
Read MoreWorkplace Violence: An Unfortunate Reality – Are You Prepared?
Mass shootings have been increasingly in the headlines in recent years, and many of these incidents have occurred in the workplace. Regardless of anyone’s politics, employers are having to face either the fear of, or the actual experience of, murder in their own offices, factories and schools. What steps should an employer take to keep…
Read MoreCalling Workers ‘Family’ a Red Flag, Job Candidates Say
When HR professionals refer to colleagues as “family,” it worries potential employees that there aren’t boundaries between work and home, a People Managing People survey found. Nearly 1 in 5 (18%) job candidates say it’s a red flag if an interviewer refers to the company as a “family” during an interview, a study by People…
Read MoreThe Speak Out Act: What Employers Need to Know
Employers should be aware of and immediately take measures to comply with the Speak Out Act, which took effect on December 7, 2022. The Act prohibits nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) and nondisparagement agreements designed to prevent current and former employees from discussing sexual harassment and assault. Employers routinely require employees to sign NDAs and nondisparagement agreements…
Read MoreDepartment of Labor Issues Opinion Letter Clarifying FMLA Leave for Overtime Workers
The United States Department of Labor (“DOL”) released an opinion letter on February 9, 2023 (the “Letter”) clarifying covered leave for overtime-eligible employees under the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). The Letter pertains to FMLA-eligible employees who work more than 40 hours in a given workweek. The…
Read MoreThe NLRB Is Providing More Resources to Workers – But What Are Employers’ Rights?
Employers should be aware that the National Labor Relations Act is actively working to inform employees about their rights under that law, and not always in a neutral way. A recent initiative is a new “Know Your Rights” card series. These tri-fold cards, in English and Spanish, are available to employees to share with others…
Read MoreWeeding Out Employees: The Ups and Downs of Drug-Testing Manufacturing Workforce
Finding and keeping dependable employees has always been a priority for employers. For manufacturers, drug testing is a tried-and-true method of weeding out employees who may be less dependable. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and changing laws have significantly impacted the employment landscape. Now might be a good time for manufacturers to remind themselves — and…
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