Focused Articles

Three Keys to Becoming a Better Boss

By Mark Castillo posted 16 hours ago
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We have all had that feeling. It’s Sunday night. You just finished dinner. The feeling starts in your gut and overtakes your entire body. You know what I’m talking about: The Sunday Night Blues. It’s the thought that you have to go back to work tomorrow. Perhaps you have 60-plus hours of work ahead of you that week. You may be stressed about an important meeting or a presentation you must give. Perhaps your stress is due to a difficult conversation you need to hold with an underperforming employee. Or your anxiety could be as simple as the morning commute at 6:30 a.m. that you are not looking forward to. The Sunday Night Blues and the stress we often feel ...
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Case Study: Six-Month Leaves Generally Are Not Reasonable Accommodations in the 10th Circuit

By Miller Jozwiak posted 7 days ago
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If an employee requests a leave of absence in excess of six months as a reasonable accommodation, must the employer grant the request? Earlier this year, in the case Cline v. Clinical Perfusion Systems, Inc. , the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit again answered that question with a “no.” Background In Cline , an employee experienced a medical emergency that led to loss of consciousness and admission to the ICU. On the day the employee was set to transfer from the ICU to inpatient rehabilitation, the employer decided to terminate his employment. The employee sued the employer for disability discrimination under the Rehabilitation Act, ...
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Elevate Workplace Communication for a Business Boost

By Megan Johnson posted 14 days ago
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Clear communication is critical in achieving strong working relationships at all levels of an organization, which has proved even more true since the COVID-19 pandemic introduced us to a remote workforce. Employers that dedicate time and effort to establishing clear lines of communication foster trust among employees, boosting productivity, output, and morale. Similarly, employees who communicate effectively with colleagues, managers, and customers are invaluable assets to an organization. This skill often distinguishes individuals from other applicants when applying for jobs. Conversely, poor communication in the workplace inevitably results in unmotivated ...
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If an Employee Misuses a Company Credit Card, What Recourse Is Available to the Employer?

By Miller Jozwiak posted 23 days ago
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Employers often provide certain employees with company credit cards for use only for business purposes. The practice is convenient for both employers and employees, expediting the process of making important purchases for the organization. Unfortunately, employees sometimes abuse this privilege and use the card for personal expenses. When that happens, what can an employer do? Many employers’ first instinct is to deduct the misused amount from the employee’s next paycheck. Federal and state wage and hour laws, however, generally limit the ability of the employer to make such deductions. For example, under the Colorado Wage Act , employer deductions from ...
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If You Have Minors in Your Workforce, Here’s What You Need to Know

By Aerie Nandi posted 28 days ago
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With summer upon us, many workforces include minors, at least on a temporary basis. Minors bring a unique sense of enthusiasm and work ethic as well as a unique set of legal considerations. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the federal law that governs wages and working conditions, places restrictions on the types of jobs and the number of hours minors (employees under the age of 18) can work to ensure that when young people work, it does not jeopardize their health, well-being, or educational opportunities. Limitations on Hours The FLSA generally prohibits any employment of children under the age of 14, with a few exceptions, including ...
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Maximizing Membership: July 2024 HR Dates of Note

By James McDonough posted 28 days ago
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Before you leave for summer vacation, use Employers Council’s membership resources to stay on top of your task list and enjoy your time off! The 2024 HR Planning Calendar includes important dates for July: July 1: In Colorado, the Job Application Fairness Act becomes effective. This article provides guidance; also see this whitepaper . July 1: The federal exempt wage level increases to $43,888, amid pending lawsuits seeking to block the new rule; consult this article for more information and watch for our news articles for updates. July 4: Independence Day, federal holiday July 24: Utah only – Pioneer Day state holiday July ...
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Remote Work Policies Offer Tangible Benefits for Many Employers

By Mark Decker posted 06-21-2024
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While many of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have eased, the traditional workspace is still grappling with the seismic shift toward remote work. According to Forbes , as of 2023, 12.7% of U.S. workers were fully remote, and 28.2% were hybrid. As many as 98% want to work remotely at least part of the time. Many employers are still considering whether to have employees return to the office or embrace remote work. It is common to see headlines of employers asking or demanding that their workers return to the office. When employers are evaluating their remote work policies, it is useful to know what tangible benefits they can see if they create a remote ...
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What Employers Can Learn from Study Showing Discrimination in Hiring Processes

By Maggie Roddy posted 06-14-2024
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A group of economists recently released the results from a study in which they sent fake resumes to nearly 100 of the United States’s largest companies, revealing discrimination within hiring processes and HR best practices to help avoid bias. Race-Based Hiring Discrimination The study involved submitting 80,000 resumes for 10,000 jobs between 2019 and 2021. Economists created resumes with equivalent qualifications but different personal characteristics and applied for entry-level positions that did not require a college degree or any related work experience. The only difference in the resumes was the applicant’s name, designed to indicate the ...
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Is Your Organization’s Dress Code Ready for the Warmer Weather?

By Wayne D'Antoni posted 06-07-2024
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For many organizations, the higher temperatures of the summer months mean adopting a revised stance on the potentially problematic matter of the company dress code. With the weather warming and wardrobes shifting to less apparel, employers must determine appropriate workplace attire. When it comes to a policy, usually a general statement outlining the expectation of a neat and clean appearance is sufficient. The more detailed a guideline, the more obsolete it becomes as styles change. Also, employees are more likely to look for ways to get around a specific directive. Organizations are increasingly moving to less formal or less detailed appearance guidelines. ...
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What Employers Should Know About the Rise of Overemployment

By Ruth Rusongoza posted 05-31-2024
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While employees having side jobs or engaging in freelance work is not new, some are now juggling two or more traditional 9-to-5 full-time jobs at the same time, a phenomenon known as overemployment. Employees are drawn to the practice to maximize their earnings, but overemployment can have significant drawbacks for employers. The rise of overemployment has been facilitated by the shift to remote work during the pandemic, as individuals have found it easier to manage multiple jobs without the distractions and time constraints of commuting to an office. Advancements in technological tools have enabled remote workers to at least attempt to simultaneously meet ...
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Now Available at the Employers Council Library: How Big Things Get Done

By James McDonough posted 05-24-2024
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Editor’s note: Employers Council offers members access to a library of books. This article is part of an ongoing series to introduce members to the collection. For years, members have told us they are undergoing major changes to meet evolving business and societal conditions. Leaders are pushing their organizations to innovate and meet the challenges of a dynamic environment. To support these efforts, How Big Things Get Done was recently added to the lending library collection. Written by Danish author Bent Flyvbjerg, a professor at the University of Oxford and global business consultant, he shares his analysis of the world’s largest database of mega ...
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Strive for an Inclusive Work Environment to Build Engagement, Boost Productivity

By Jenny DeFranco posted 05-24-2024
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Employers can focus on enhancing diversity, belonging, and psychological safety to create a competitive advantage of high productivity and engaging work environments. What do diversity, inclusion, and psychological safety mean in the workplace? Diversity is more than race. Diversity describes who is represented in our workplaces. Diversity includes ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, ability, neurodiversity, religious beliefs, languages, traditions, and experiences. Inclusion is about the experiences of our employees. Inclusion refers to fair and equitable workplaces that allow all employees to feel valued and respected and where we all ...
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Housing for Workers Is a Major Concern for Employers

By James McDonough posted 05-17-2024
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The availability of housing options for employees has become a serious issue for many employers in regions around the country. That is especially so in Colorado, where a recent survey declared the state to be the least affordable housing market in the country. Some members are telling us that housing is a serious barrier to meeting workforce needs, especially in resort mountain areas and urban markets. Applicants are scant for lower-paid positions, and competition is fierce. Perhaps even more frustrating, hires who must relocate often decline offers after they research the housing market and find it unaffordable. Some newly hired employees leave soon after ...
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The Impact of Pettiness on Workplace Culture and How to Coach Employees to Rise Above It

By Brittanie Young posted 05-10-2024
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An employee walks into your office to report that Jennifer’s behavior is giving them “bad vibes” but doesn’t offer any additional context. A senior executive is upset that you didn’t immediately respond to the email they sent at 11:59 p.m. and accuses you of being unresponsive or questions how much you are really working. Pettiness is an attitude that derives from a perceived need to be right and to show excessive concern about matters that add no value. Pettiness is also a divider that creates unnecessary walls and rifts in the workplace. As flawed human beings, we have all been guilty of attitudes and behaviors that cause us to view others and their circumstances ...
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Maximizing Membership: May HR Dates of Note

By James McDonough posted 05-03-2024
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Now that spring is in full swing, use your Employers Council membership resources to stay on top of tasks so you can enjoy the lovely month of May! The 2024 HR Planning Calendar includes important dates for May: May 8: final day of the Colorado legislative session. Unless a special session is called, this marks the end of new legislative activity, and passed bills await the governor’s signature or veto. Stay tuned to our Weekly Digest for updates! May 15: due date for IRS Form 990, if calendar year accounting is used. This is for tax-exempt political organizations. May 15: final day for discounted registration for the Employers Council ...
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In the Era of AI, Learn About the Real Candidate Behind the Resume

By Brandy Walker posted 05-03-2024
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Job seekers are increasingly using generative artificial intelligence (AI) when writing their resumes. A survey by graphic design company Canva reveals that 45% of those seeking jobs have enhanced their resumes with AI tools, according to a recent Forbes article . Benefits of using AI for a resume may include the optimization of formatting and wording that increases appeal and alignment with the job posting, as well as decreased spelling or grammatical errors. Research conducted by an MIT Sloan School of Management Ph.D. student found that “job seekers with AI-assisted resumes are 8% more likely to be hired, receive 7.8% more job offers, and earn 8.4% higher ...
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USERRA: What Employers Need to Know

By Ivy Voss posted 05-02-2024
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The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) was passed in 1994 to protect the employment of military personnel during and after their military service. USERRA protections apply to active-duty military personnel, reservists, and members of the National Guard. The Act’s stated purpose is to encourage continuing service by non-career military personnel, to prohibit discrimination connected with their service, and to ensure prompt re-employment upon the member’s return from deployment or service. Many businesses may be unaware that they have employees with ongoing military obligations until an employee is called up for deployment or gives ...
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Intermittent FMLA Leave: Common Issues that HR Professionals May Face

By Brandon Garrett posted 04-25-2024
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Understanding and applying medical leave laws can be a formidable task. It becomes even more difficult when an employer needs to respond to an intermittent Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) request and grapple with how to apply FMLA leave to individual situations. Though challenging, staying compliant with the FMLA is crucial for mitigating an employer’s legal risk. FMLA was meant to streamline and federalize laws relating to employees’ medical leave, but it can end up being an administrative struggle for the most seasoned HR professional. One specific request under the FMLA umbrella that can be challenging is intermittent FMLA Leave. An HR professional ...
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How Does the FMLA’s Integrated Employer Rule Affect You?

By Ivy Voss posted 04-19-2024
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Most business owners are aware that the legal requirement to provide leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) depends on several factors, most notably having 50 or more employees within a 75-mile radius. The employee count for FMLA purposes can be complicated by a workforce where remote employees are included in the count if the office to which they report and from which they receive assignments has at least 50 employees including remote workers and by the FMLA’s integrated employer rule, which may cause separate companies with common ownership to be considered a single employer. While a simple payroll census seems straightforward, how employees’ ...
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U.S. Senator’s Recently Introduced Bill Puts Spotlight on Shorter Workweeks

By Edward Encinias posted 04-19-2024
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The concept of a reduced workweek has gained momentum in recent years, as Employers Council wrote about in this August 2023 article . In March 2024, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced a bill proposing that the standard workweek be reduced from 40 to 32 hours. While not likely to pass in the politically divided Congress, the measure has drawn even greater attention to the idea of a shorter workweek. An Ongoing Issue A few years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic reignited discussions around employee satisfaction, work-life balance, and flexible schedules, prompting organizations to consider shortening the workweek. Companies across the globe have ...
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