Human Resources

We are reopening after business closure due to COVID-19. Can we bring some employees back, but not others?

Yes. If you are recalling some positions, but not others, you should document the business reasons why only those positions were recalled. If you are recalling some employees in a certain position, but not everyone in that position, you should document the objective, job-related criteria you...

08 May, 2020

From the HR Support Center: How Do I Make a Telecommuting Policy?

Although some employers will be comfortable sending everyone home with their laptop and saying, go forth and be productive, most will want to be a little more specific. A good telecommuting policy will generally address productivity standards, hours of work, how and when employees should...

01 May, 2020

How To Deal With Stress During Quarantine

During this pandemic, coping with the disruption in your normal routine may be stressful. Isolation may leave you feeling like you have no control. You may feel cut off from the rest of the world and experience cabin fever, leading to irritability or emotional exhaustion. There...

30 April, 2020

The Difference Between a Furlough and a Layoff

The last thing employees and employers want is lost jobs. It means financial uncertainty for everyone involved, which is why most employers do everything they can to prevent downsizing or prolonged closures. However, reality sometimes forces the situation, as is the case with the coronavirus disease...

29 April, 2020

We are an essential business and an employee is refusing to work as they say it’s not safe. Can I discipline them?

We are an essential business where there's a shelter-in-place rule and an employee is refusing to work as they say it's not safe. Can I discipline them? This is certainly a difficult situation to be in. Extreme caution is recommended in disciplining or terminating an employee...

24 April, 2020

DOL Relaxes In-Person I-9 Inspection Requirements

The physical presence requirement of the Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9, requires that employers, or an authorized representative, physically examine, in the employee’s physical presence, the unexpired document(s) the employee presents from the Lists of Acceptable Documents to complete the Documents fields in Form I-9’s Section 2. On March 20,...

23 April, 2020

Overview of Unemployment Benefits Changes Under the CARES Act

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act became law on March 27, 2020, and is a $2.2 trillion economic stimulus package designed to support individuals and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This Act is important because it provides federal dollars at this time...

21 April, 2020

From the HR Support Center: Given COVID-19, if an employee is out of the office due to sickness, can we ask them about their symptoms?

Yes, but there’s a right way to do it and a wrong way to do it. In most circumstances, employers shouldn’t ask about an employee’s symptoms, as that could be construed as a disability-related inquiry. Under the circumstances, however—and in line with an employer’s responsibility...

13 April, 2020

How to Handle COVID-19-Related Layoffs

The twin crises of a pandemic and a plunging market have pummeled a lot of businesses — many have already started laying off employees, and many more will need to soon. It's never a pleasant situation for anyone, but there are ways to mitigate both...

09 April, 2020

Tracking FFCRA Employee Leave for Payroll Partners Clients

As we’re all experiencing uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic and recently passed legislation, we wanted to reach out to you to update you on a new resource available to those clients that are looking to take advantage of the new Families First Coronavirus Response...

07 April, 2020