Focused Articles

Unlock the Power of Intrinsic Rewards to Boost Employee Motivation

By Ruth Rusongoza posted 9 days ago
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If you want to understand what motivates employees, it’s important to know the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic rewards. Extrinsic rewards are the type that many people think about first: tangible things like bonuses and raises. These rewards come from the employer, often as incentives. Intrinsic rewards are internal factors — like pride and satisfaction — that motivate employees to want to complete specific tasks and projects. These rewards come from within rather than from external incentives. Intrinsic rewards also include recognition or non-tangible motivators that help employees feel valued and respected while also inspiring ...
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Providing Mental Health Support for Employees Is Good Business

By James McDonough posted 16 days ago
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May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, which can serve as a reminder to employers: Ignoring the mental health of employees is bad business. A variety of surveys find that many workers face mental health challenges that impact their workplace performance, and they expect help from their employers. Consider the following: 51% of HR leaders report an increasing demand for mental health leaves . ( Headspace ) $154 billion annually is lost by employers to stress-related employee absenteeism . ( Cigna ) 92% of workers believe it is very (52%) or ...
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Talent Management: Focus on Skills to Propel Your Merit-Based Strategy

By Mark Castillo posted 16 days ago
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Recent decisions by the current White House administration have cast uncertainty on the future of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and practices, as explained in a previous Employers Council article . The purpose of this article is to address one of the outcomes of the changing landscape: a renewed emphasis on a merit-based approach to the workplace. Specifically, how can a merit-based approach enhance performance, fairness, and growth? What I s a Merit - Based Approach? A merit-based approach to talent management is a strategy where decisions about hiring, promotion, compensation , and development ...
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Why Employees Resist Change and How to Create Buy-In

By Megan Johnson posted 23 days ago
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Any change at work can feel disruptive if employees allow it to be. Major organizational changes can lead to fears of job loss or disrupted work-life balance. If employees feel the change isn’t what they want or isn’t fair, they may become resentful. Even small changes, like switching up the breakroom offerings, can cause inconvenience or frustration. Ultimately, managing resistance to change is critical. Types of Workplace Change Workplace changes come in various forms, each impacting employees differently. Common types of change include: Structural changes: Mergers, acquisitions, or reorganizations can create ...
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Foster Accountability by Setting Clear Expectations for Employees

By Kim Robinson posted 30 days ago
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Managers and supervisors often struggle with holding employees accountable. The trick to accountability is, in part, understanding that no one can make or force someone else to be accountable. If we begin to look at accountability as a personal sense of ownership of outcomes, results, and consequences, each individual is responsible for being accountable. Managers and supervisors can cultivate, encourage, promote, and reward accountability, but they cannot force it. Among the most effective tools they can use are expectations. How to Set Clear Expectations Expectations go by many names. We can call them goals, objectives ...
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Build a Highly Skilled Talent Pipeline Through Apprenticeships

By Brittanie Young posted 04-16-2025
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One of the biggest challenges many employers face is filling positions that require a specific skill set or training. For employers that demand specialized skills, the candidate supply can feel limited and result in vacancies taking longer to fill. The difficulty in recruiting for specialized positions can also result in a loss of productivity and revenue. One option to help employers recruit highly skilled candidates is through apprenticeship programs. What I s an A pprenticeship? An apprenticeship is a n industry - driven and highly structured process that combines paid on - the - job training with classroom ...
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What California Employers Can Learn from Pregnancy and Lactation Harassment Case

By Mary Miller posted 04-09-2025
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An employee's allegations of pregnancy and lactation harassment in violation of California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) have survived a motion to dismiss in federal court and will move forward in the Eastern District of California. The plaintiff, a sales representative at Capital One, NA, contends that her supervisor violated FEHA when she “sounded annoyed and irritated” while informing the plaintiff that she could only breastfeed her baby during normally scheduled breaks. The plaintiff’s supervisor allegedly further violated FEHA when she subsequently denied the plaintiff’s request for additional breaks as an accommodation. The plaintiff ...
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Navigating DEI Today: What Employers Need to Know

By Edward Encinias posted 04-02-2025
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As many know, Executive Order 14173 ( Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity ) revoke d prior Executive Order 11246 . E.O. 11246, which was issued in 1965, prohibited employment discrimination by the federal government and federal contractors and subcontractors based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It also required federal contractors to create and maintain an affirmative action plan to ensure nondiscrimination practices were maintained. E.O. 14173 contains provisions encouraging all private employers, regardless of federal contractor status, to end “illegal DEI” discrimination and ...
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Watch Out for These FMLA Compliance Pitfalls

By Barbara Bagdon posted 04-02-2025
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Most employers are aware that the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires covered employers to provide eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave (26 weeks for certain military purposes) within a 12-month period. The statute also requires employers to maintain the employee’s group health insurance during their leave and to reinstate the employee to the same or equivalent position following leave. However, employers may not be aware of the following five requirements they must follow to be in compliance with FMLA regulations and avoid claims of FMLA interference or retaliation. No Undue Hardship Defense ...
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How to Handle Layoffs with Compassion and Support for Affected Employees

By Kirsten Ellis posted 04-02-2025
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Layoffs are never easy for businesses or employees who are let go. Even though they may be necessary due to restructuring, cost-cutting, or changing business priorities, layoffs can have a serious emotional and professional impact on those affected. As an HR or business leader, it’s important to approach the process with empathy and transparency and provide real support to help your employees transition to their next role. Be Transparent and Plan Ahead Prepare for the Process : Before announcing layoffs, take time to create a clear plan. This means understanding why the layoffs are happening, determining how employees will ...
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Use These HR Recordkeeping Hygiene Tips to Reduce Risks

By James McDonough posted 03-26-2025
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If not managed consistently and carefully, human resources records in any form (paper, digital, etc.) pose a variety of risks, such as identity theft and non-compliance. HR professionals must take action, commonly referred to as recordkeeping hygiene, to reduce these risks.    These HR recordkeeping hygiene tips will keep your practices on track.  Inventory Your HR Records  Look for HR records in various places besides HR :  off-site storage, offsite servers/ cloud systems, the desks of front-line supervisors, etc.  Track down all your records and evaluate if they are secured from ...
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Changes Proposed to Employment Arbitration Rules

By Edward Encinias posted 03-19-2025
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The American Arbitration Association (AAA) recently announced proposed amendments to the Employment Arbitration Rules . The AAA sought public comment on the proposed revisions (this period closed on February 28) and is now considering whether to adopt, edit, or revoke the proposed revisions. These changes might impact employers’ decisions to participate in arbitration. What is Arbitration? Arbitration is a form of private dispute resolution. Like litigation, a rbitration is a binding, adjudicatory process that parties engage in to settle disputes fully and finally. The requirement to settle disputes ...
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How Do the New Executive Orders Impact Workplace Investigations?

By Julia Paris posted 03-12-2025
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With the recent flurry of new executive orders issued by President Trump, human resources professionals across the country have been faced with possible changes to their practices and obligations, from affirmative action planning requirements to DEI initiatives. Many companies are examining internal policies and practices across the board, including their EEO policies and how and when they conduct workplace investigations. Executive Order 14173 revoke s prior Executive Order 11246, which mandated affirmative action plans regarding race, color, religion, sex , sexual orientation , gender identity , or national origin for ...
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Layoffs vs. Terminations: Know the Differences and Alternatives

By Hannah Nelson posted 03-12-2025
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Layoffs and terminations are making headlines on an almost weekly basis these days. With employers facing cuts to the workforce, questions often arise regarding the difference between layoffs and termination, as well as what alternatives may exist. Layoffs Layoffs are a planned elimination of positions or jobs. There are different terms used for layoffs, including a reduction in force, restructuring, rightsizing, and downsizing. Layoffs are typically driven by the need to reduce costs. While the decision to lay off employees may be driven by costs, this does not protect employers from risks associated with separation, including litigation. ...
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Here’s How to Craft Effective Job Postings

By Kim Robinson posted 03-05-2025
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Savvy recruiting professionals know that a multi-pronged approach to finding talent usually yields the best results. They may employ both active and passive strategies, posting on job boards and their company careers page, soliciting employee referrals, reaching out through networks, and contacting potential candidates directly. No matter what the approach, nearly every candidate will view a version of a job posting at some point. For many, the posting will be their first experience with the organization, and we know that first impressions are lasting and often hard to change. How can we create clear, concise job postings that inform candidates about ...
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Can My Organization Provide Comp Time?

By Brandy Walker posted 03-05-2025
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Even if you have only worked in HR for a short time, you know that a unique language is used. There are countless acronyms and special lingo used throughout the day. This language can sometimes get employers into trouble when the regular English definition and the legal definition have conflicting meanings. One such example of this is the use of “comp time.” According to the Oxford definition, compensatory time, or “comp time,” is “an arrangement by which eligible employees are entitled to time off in lieu of overtime pay.” The key word here is “eligible.” According to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), “The use of comp time instead ...
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Five Non-Monetary Ways to Recognize Employees

By Chelsea Jensen posted 03-05-2025
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Financial incentives like bonuses and gift cards can be great motivators, but non-financial recognition can have an even greater impact on employee engagement and job satisfaction. Thoughtful, personalized recognition fosters a positive workplace culture, improves retention, and enhances productivity — all without requiring a significant financial investment. If you're looking for effective non-monetary ways to recognize and engage employees, here are five powerful strategies: Praise from Leadership Employees thrive when they feel valued, and effective recognition from managers and senior leaders plays a crucial role in this. According ...
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If You’re Using AI, Remember the ADA

By Dustin Brown posted 03-05-2025
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Seemingly overnight, employers’ use of artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic decision-making tools in the workplace is ubiquitous. While these technologies may be useful for many employers, they carry the risk of unlawful discrimination against applicants or employees, including people with disabilities. Whether using AI to assist with talent acquisition, monitoring employee performance, determining employee pay, or in some other way, employers should keep in mind the legal implications of its use and brush up on one area in particular, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) . A New Executive Order The Equal ...
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What You Need to Know About Colorado’s Upcoming Biometric Law

By Mark Decker posted 02-26-2025
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On July 1, 2025, the Colorado Privacy Act (CPA) will be amended by Colorado’s Biometric Data Privacy Law . This amendment includes specific provisions that regulate the collection and use of employees’ biometric information. Scope The law applies to entities, including nonprofits, conducting business in Colorado or targeting Colorado residents, regardless of size or data volume. This includes employers collecting identifiable biometric information from employees. Exemptions are limited and include entities such as financial institutions subject to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. In short, if you are an employer operating in or targeting ...
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Effective Strategies for Educating Employees on Benefits

By Kirsten Ellis posted 02-26-2025
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In today’s competitive job market, attracting and retaining talent has become increasingly challenging for organizations. While traditional benefits, such as health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off, remain essential, many companies are exploring an array of alternative benefits and incentives. These offerings may include flexible work schedules, remote work options, wellness programs, career development opportunities, and mental health support. Providing innovative benefits boosts employee satisfaction , engagement , and retention, while bolste ring an employer ’s brand. According to a 2024 study by MetLife ...
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