Posts by Joe Boone
How to Apply “Evidence-Based Ideas” to Diversity and Inclusion
Treating diversity differently from other organizational goals leaves the firm vulnerable to consulting fads, symbolic actions and slow or no progress, according to a new report. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses have the opportunity to rethink strategies, goals and ways to measure them — key performance indicators (KPIs), as experts call them. During this process,…
Read MoreIRS Announces 2021 Limits for HSAs and High-Deductible Health Plans
Health savings account (HSA) contribution limits for 2021 are going up $50 for self-only coverage and $100 for family coverage, the IRS announced May 21, giving employers that sponsor high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) plenty of time to prepare for open enrollment season later this year. The annual limit on HSA contributions will be $3,600 for…
Read MoreCOVID-19 and Workers with Disabilities
As many businesses start to reopen, they are creating guidelines to keep their employees safe. New protocols include requiring workers to stay six feet apart from each other (and from customers, if appropriate), wear face masks and keep their hands clean at all times. While some employees may be able to adhere to these conditions,…
Read MoreHow Managers Can Master Remote Work’s Steep, Sudden Learning Curve
From leading video chats to helping reports deal with distractions, HR can relay a number of lessons to company leaders. Remote work, for years an emerging trend in American workplaces, has become an undeniable reality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health officials promoted social distancing as a means of mitigating COVID-19 when it began to…
Read MoreHR Managers Rethink Their Role During the Coronavirus Pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted organizations and caused human resources managers to think differently about their role as they adjust to social distancing practices and a new work environment that they may never have imagined. To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, companies have switched to a remote work model at a rate and scale…
Read MoreWhen Evaluating Interns, Aim For a Level Playing Field
Even in a normal year, April is a busy time for recruiters and talent professionals. One of the many items on their lists is preparation for annual summer internship programs. The COVID-19 pandemic threatens such programs in many workplaces, according to Kevin Davis, founder and chairman of First Workings, a Manhattan-based non-profit that connects underrepresented…
Read More“Employees Cannot Mandate an Accommodation”
As the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit found, an employee must engage in the reasonable accommodation process and must provide medical documentation that actually supports his reasonable accommodation request. In Tchankpa v. Ascena Retail Group, Inc., an employee with a shoulder injury demanded to work from home. The employer sought medical documentation, which…
Read MoreCoronavirus Brings Cloud of Uncertainty Over Summer Internships
The pandemic brought an abrupt end to many spring internships. Employers are evaluating how the virus will change next season’s programs. When the novel coronavirus arrived in the U.S., it upended work for many. Among those whose jobs disappeared were interns. Walt Disney Co. closed its U.S. theme parks in March, ending the internships of…
Read MoreDOL Outlines Small-Business Exemption From Coronavirus Paid Leave Law
Employers with fewer than 50 employees may claim an exemption from the emergency paid leave provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), and the exemption applies specifically to leave taken for reasons of child care and school closures related to COVID-19, according to a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) guidance updated March 28.…
Read MoreProtecting Social Media Contact Lists as Trade Secrets
Social media contact lists have become an increasingly important part of a business’s customer lists. While courts are still grappling with who legally “owns” the data that the employee acquired on the employer’s dime—such as LinkedIn customer connections or access to a list of Twitter-feed recipients—employers can still take steps to bolster the company’s claim of…
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