HR Tips

Many state and local minimum wage rates are scheduled to increase on July 1, 2021. Below is a summary of these changes and guidelines to help you comply with your minimum wage requirements.

As more employers bring employees back to the workplace and navigate new CDC guidance on mask-wearing, they may have questions about whether they can ask about an employee or applicant's COVID-19 vaccination status. Here are answers to frequently asked questions about vaccination inquiries.

More and more jurisdictions are passing laws requiring employers to provide paid leave to employees, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated this trend. When new laws are enacted, employers often have questions about the impact on their existing policies. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions on paid sick leave, vacation, and paid time off.

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 are seven key areas where you can help foster a positive culture at your company.

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 response to these cases, several jurisdictions have passed laws that expressly prohibit hairstyle discrimination. Below is a list of locations where these laws have been enacted along with guidelines for workplace grooming and appearance standards.

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.

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 benefits to their employees. Given the developments in the last year, here are six compliance trends to watch in 2021.

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 timekeeping and pay practices comply with federal, state, and local requirements.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has recently published guidance (Field Assistance Bulletin 2020-5) that addresses federal rules for paying remote workers. While the guidance doesn't carry the same weight as a regulation or law, it demonstrates how the DOL intends to enforce federal wage and hour requirements. Below are four key takeaways from the guidance.

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.

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. Depending on the circumstances, these different approaches can trigger employee eligibility for paid leave to care for their children. In this Tip, we address seven scenarios to consider this back-to-school season.