Federal, state and local laws prohibit employers from discriminating against individuals because of race, national origin, sex, pregnancy, disability, and certain other characteristics. During the COVID-19 pandemic, employers must navigate all employment decisions — including those related ...

To lower costs and avoid layoffs during difficult times, employers may consider reducing employees' regular work hours. Among other things, a reduction in hours can affect wage and hour law compliance, eligibility for unemployment and benefits, loan forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection ...

At the beginning of the year, we identified five compliance trends to watch in 2020. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. While the pandemic has played a large role in the types of laws and regulations we've seen over the past few months, earlier trends are still relevant. Below are recent ...

The return to school this academic year will be much different as a result of COVID-19. While some schools will return to the classroom, others will start with distance learning or take a hybrid approach that combines some in-class instruction with some distance learning. For employers, these ...

Furloughs can be an effective way to cut costs during times of decreased business activity. However, employers should think through the decision carefully with special attention paid to pay, benefits, and other issues. Here are answers to frequently asked questions related to furloughs. Q: What ...

Many employees are working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and government orders restricting travel and normal workplace operations. Because remote employees aren't clocking in and out at the employer's physical premises, it's increasingly important for employers to ensure that their ...

In 2020, federal, state, and local governments enacted numerous employment laws in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to responding to the pandemic, state and local jurisdictions also adopted a number of laws and regulations that affect the way employers hire, pay, treat, and provide ...

When an employee asks for time off, employers must determine whether the employee is eligible for a leave of absence under federal, state, or local law and/or the employer's own policy. Below are various factors to consider when making these determinations. #1: Are you considered a covered ...

Over the years, employees have filed complaints alleging their employers violated existing nondiscrimination laws by prohibiting them from wearing certain hairstyles. Courts have generally been split on whether restricting certain hairstyles violates laws prohibiting racial discrimination. In ...

Your company's culture—the shared values and beliefs that are reflected through policies, practices, and interactions—can be critical to attracting, motivating, and retaining employees. This can be especially true during the COVID-19 pandemic and when facing other challenges. Here ...