The Human Resource

From the Department of Labor to the National Labor Relations Board look for change as the new administration takes their place in Washington. We all know change is the only constant in the universe but will you be able to keep up with the many projected changes in employment and labor regulations? Pandy shares a list of what she expects to be the major topics of conversation over the next few year...

The US Department of Labor announced that OSHA finalized the rule on proper fit requirements for personal protective equipment in construction on December 11, 2024. In this episode Pandy reminds any organization utilizing PPE of the importance of a proper fit for all employees.

Tis the season for festivities and company parties but are you thinking about the risks you may be taking if these events are not well thought out? Open bars and mandatory attendance are disasters waiting to happen. In this episode Pandy gives you ideas to consider when planning your company celebrations while eliminating unnecessary risks.

Did you realize that Supervisors can be sued as well as the employer? Scott Warrick, attorney and HR Consultant in Columbus joins Pandy in this episode about bystander laws and the risks of not speaking up as a Supervisor.

Contracts or agreements with "stay or pay" provisions are under attack by the NLRB. If you're using a payback agreement for any reason; recruiting fees, education repayments, sign-on bonuses, you need to listen to this show. Pandy shares the concerns and details the General Counsel is presently identifying as unlawful. This show encourages you to work with your labor law attorney to...

How much are you babysitting when employees request time off or sick time? Does it really matter why they need time off from work? Pandy references the New York City initiative to add sick time for employees to use for their pets. Based on a paper by Fiona Ong at Shawe and Rosenthal, Pandy challenges you to think about the mental health of your employees and those life events when time away is imp...

Who are you enabling? What are you enabling? In this episode Pandy walks through a checklist of questions to help you identify who and what you are enabling in the workplace. Learn to identify and address those that enable and those that are being enabled to eliminate the toxic and risky environment they create.

In this episode Pandy reminds us of the importance of eliminating harassment of any kind. How much is the harassing or discriminating behavior costing your company? Stop ignoring, stop enabling and deal with the harassment in your workplace using the EEOC guidelines to eliminate and prevent these behaviors.

Would it surprise you to know that falls are the #1 cited safety violation in the workplace this year? Start your new workplace safety program by listening to this episode where Pandy shares the top ten cited violations by OSHA. Though the numbers have decreased from 2023 by 10% we can all be reminded how important it is to train for and maintain a safe work environment.

Does your state require that employees be paid to vote on election day? Have you educated yourself on the state voting laws of your remote workers? Don't wait until it's too late and your workforce is leaving the building to vote ... while still on the clock. In this episode Pandy shares the states that provide paid voting leave and the possible requirements other states may impose on em...

With the popularity of recreational and medical marijuana how is a company to enforce a drug policy? Just finding employees that don't use marijuana is a struggle but ignoring the possible risks and harm drug use can have in the workplace is not the answer any of us can afford to practice. Doug Oldham from Barnes and Thornburg in Columbus, Ohio joins Pandy to discuss how to craft an effective...

Did you know that Montana is the only state in the US that does not recognize at-will employment? Companies rely on at-will employment as a safety net for employment decisions but at the same time courts across the country are challenging the open ended use of at-will employment. In this episode Pandy reminds you of the key elements to an at-will decision and how to assure you are exercising this...

Have you noticed more of your remote workers missing meetings. Missing deadlines or calls with the team? If you suspect they're at a soccer game or swim lessons you're not alone. What can you do if you suspect your remote employees are also watching their children during working hours? Leah Stiegler and Emily Kendall Chowhan from Woods & Rogers Law Firm in Virginia join Pandy in this...

With the new updates to the Fair Labor Standards Act's new salary threshold, what changes can employers make and still remain compliant? Karl Ulrich with Sebaly, Shillito and Dyer joins Pandy to discuss changing terms of employment and the option of restructuring to address the upcoming increases to the salary threshold.

Karl Ulrich from Sebaly Shillito and Dyer joins Pandy to update us on the latest court decisions regarding the Federal Trade Commission's opposition of non-competes. Where do we go from here? Are non-competes dead in the water or can they be revived?

How many of you have a policy regarding firearms in the workplace? A number of states are updating their laws regarding concealed carry and the possession of firearms but are you updating your company policies? What is the impact or risk of possessing a firearm in the workplace. In this episode Pandy recommends 10 things to consider as you review your policy on firearms in the workplace.

When your state legalizes either medical or recreational marijuana how does that change your drug policies? Do you even know the marijuana laws in the states your employees reside? In this episode Pandy talks about the laws in Ohio and provides you with points to consider when reviewing your employment decisions involving marijuana use.

Have you heard? I-9 fines have increased to as much as $2,789 per violation. Are you prepared to pay fines even higher? And if you're knowingly employing unauthorized aliens you need to listen to this episode. Auditing your I-9's now should be top priority. Pandy shares the cost of I-9 mistakes and some common errors to avoid.

There's a consequence to not having consequences so why are so many companies not using them to manage their business and workforce. Pandy's passion is revealed in this episode as she challenges you to consider how you and your company are using consequences to accomplish your goals and the damage that can occur by not using them.

It's only July and yet so much has changed in HR compliance just since January. In this episode Pandy reviews updates from Wage and Hour, EEOC, Federal Trade Commission, OSHA, and more. Don't let anything slip between the cracks. There's still time to make the changes you may have missed.

According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) one of the formal indicators of a hostile workplace is how severe and/or pervasive an act is. Pandy references the actual guidance published in April, 2024 to teach us how to identify if an act is either severe or pervasive.

How do you properly approach the retirement conversation? What can you say and what should you avoid? In this episode Pandy walks you through the key items to think about and how to establish a positive and constructive line of communication so everyone feels empowered and informed.

Attorney Shannon Kelly from Ford Harrison in Orlando Florida joins Pandy to explain the finer details of the updated EEOC guidance. Shannon explains the new terms and expanded protections in defining a hostile workplace according to the EEOC. Take notes on what she recommends to be a compliant harassment policy.

How many of you are using camera's or listening in on your employee phone calls? What should a business be considering if you want to implement this technology? Pandy has Karl Ulrich in from Sebaly, Shillito and Dyer to review the legal restrictions around the use of surveilance equipment and the legal protections employees can expect.

Who is the Federal Trade Commission and why are they changing the way we use non-competes? Karl Ulrich with Sebaly, Shillito and Dyer, and Pandy discuss the surprising and much talked about removal of non-compete agreements from the employment process. What options do businesses have and what should you be doing before the effective date in September.