Human Resources

Research shows a strong link between employee recognition and retention. These studies found that recognition programs can increase employee morale, productivity and organizational commitment. As a result, employers are increasingly adopting recognition programs, which include awards such as plaques and trophies. Recognition awards are typically given to employees...

Telehealth has been around for decades. In the past couple of years, however, the practice has gained immense steam. In fact, telehealth is now a core aspect of many employers' group health plans for several reasons: Telehealth can reduce health care costs, i.e., it can...

Question: Can we ask references about an applicant’s previous use of sick time? We’d like to get a sense of their reliability. Answer: No, you shouldn’t make any inquiries into an applicant’s history of calling in sick. Asking about absences because of illness or injury before...

A 2020 report from Reuters revealed that the number of remote employees worldwide is expected to double in 2021. Further, in a survey by LaSalle Network, 77% of executives said they expected to be following a hybrid model in 12 months, having some employees work...

Yes, in two circumstances. First, you can discipline the employee if their other job violates your outside employment (aka moonlighting) policy. Second, you can discipline an employee who obtained FMLA leave fraudulently. If, however, you do not have a policy that specifically prohibits employees from...

Are you rethinking your workforce strategy? The pandemic drastically changed markets. Many businesses closed in 2020, others retrenched and still others boomed. As you address your company's needs, are you wondering if you have enough workers to operate effectively? Rightsizing is the process of making a...

Reimbursing your employees for work-related expenses is nothing new, but the practice was primarily limited to on-site employees. However, with the arrival of COVID-19 and the pandemic that forced people into an unparalleled shift toward the remote-work lifestyle, the question of whether or not remote...