Religious Accommodations Case Gets Supreme Court Review

The United States Supreme Court will review during this term, a religious accommodations case involving an employee of the United States Postal Service. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has updated a resource document on hearing disabilities in the workplace. The Occupational Safety and Health Authority (OSHA) requires employers to post by February 1st, a form detailing work-related illnesses and injuries during the previous year and also has increased its civil penalties to reflect the increase in the cost of living.

Office image

Overtime Proposed Rule Release Planned in May

The U.S. Department of Labor has rescheduled the release of its proposed salary basis threshold rule for May and the Federal Trade Commission has issued a proposed rule that would ban employers from imposing noncompete agreements on their workers.

Congress

Congress Enacts Workforce Issues

The start of the year marked the beginning of a two-year session of Congress. Prior to adjourning in December, the Congress included in its bill funding the federal government the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act, and the Securing a Secure Retirement Act.

Early Biden Policies Lean Pro-Worker

President Signs Speak Out and Respect for Marriage Legislation

President Joseph Biden has signed the Speak Out Act and the Respect for Marriage Act and The Department of Labor has found numerous Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) violations in the care industry as a result of a recent initiative designed to improve compliance.

Diversity, Inclusion and Disability Employment Awareness

Sixty-one million adults in the United States live with a disability. The majority have mobility issues, followed by neurodiversity, hearing, and vision. And yet, every one of these individuals has abilities – not just disabilities – that can contribute to the workforce when disability inclusion is core to an employer’s DEI programs.

Railway

Freight Railway Workers Strike Prevented

Congress exercised the power it has under the Railway Labor Act to prevent a freight railway workers strike by ratifying the agreement that was negotiated by railway workers and management. The Labor Department issued a final rule that allows retirement plan fiduciaries to consider climate change and other environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors when selecting retirement investments. The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit decided that the time spent by turning on and loading programs on computers was compensable under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Congress image

President Expected to Sign the Speak Out Act

Congress has approved the Speak Out Act, which would make unenforceable pre-dispute non-disclosure and non-disparagement clauses in cases of sexual assault and sexual harassment. The Department of Labor did not meet its October deadline to issue proposed regulations updating the overtime salary basis threshold under the FLSA. Several federal agencies have issued a military employment discrimination resource, and voters in two states approved minimum wage increases.

How Global HR Standards Are Developed

EEOC Issues New Poster

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has released an updated Know Your Rights poster that employers need to post and make available to employees. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released various benefit plan contributions limits for 2023, the National Labor Relations Board has issued a proposed rule concerning fair choice and employee voice, and the Department of Homeland Security has notified employers that they should continue using the current I-9 form despite its expiration date of October 31, 2022

Taking the Leap: How Darryl Walker Moved from Paratrooper to PHR

Communicating Company Culture & Values to Strengthen Retention of Veterans

Kimberlie England, co-author of Mission Next: Successfully transitioning from the military to the civilian workforce, says that one way to retain veterans – and to keep them engaged and excited about their work – is through creating a veteran-informed culture.

7 New HR Tech Platforms Worth a Second Look

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: HR Leaders can Help Create & Support a Cyber-Aware Culture

One critical business process that every HR professional must be aware of and help bolster is a cyber-aware culture in which every employee plays a role in protecting the organization’s data, devices, and IT networks from unauthorized access and malicious use: cybersecurity. 

Disruptive HR Trends: What You Need to Know Heading Into 2022

Independent Contractor Rule Proposed

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a proposed rule that is designed to help employers classify workers and to address misclassification that occurs when workers are considered independent contractors rather than employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Culture First: Empathy and Collaboration

HRCI Congratulates James Lewis, Chair of ISO Technical Committee 260, on ANSI Award

The HRCI team extends heartfelt congratulations to James (Jim) Lewis, SPHR, GPHR, President of J. Lewis Consulting Group, LLC and Chair of ISO Technical Committee 260, on his recent ANSI Award. Lewis previously served as Board Chair and Board Member at HRCI.

HRCI Wins Thought Industries’ 2022 Continuing Education Award

Last week, Thought Industries (Ti) named HRCI the winner of its 2022 Continuing Education Award. Part of the company’s COGNITION22 Customer Awards, Ti made the announcement during its annual enterprise learning conference and user event, which was held online from October 3 – 6, 2022.

Federal Agencies Focus on COVID Vaccines & Tests

Supreme Court Begins New Term

The United States Supreme Court began its new term on October 3rd with several cases already on its docket that could impact workforces. The federal government has been funded through mid-December thus avoiding a partial government shutdown that would have occurred on October 1st. The Department of Labor has expanded its registered apprenticeship program, OSHA has modified the Severe Violator Enforcement Program, and the EEOC has released new data.

Joint Employment Regulations Issued

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has proposed joint employment regulations. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has decided that OSHA cannot be compelled to issue a permanent COVID-19 standard to protect healthcare workers.