On April 10, 2023, President Biden signed a resolution ending the COVID-19 national emergency that had been in place since 2020. The national emergency affects various employee benefit plan deadline extensions. This Legal Update explains further.
486866 COVID-19 National Emergency Ends Sooner Than Previously AnnouncedQuestion:
“We have two employees who don’t seem to like each other, and it is starting to affect their work. How do we help employees who don’t get along to work well together?”
Answer:
“Getting employees who don’t like each other to work well together can be challenging, but here are several steps you can take to improve the situation.”
Read more: Link
Read moreQuestion:
We have a remote employee who is working through their lunch break. Can we require them to take it?
Answer:
Yes, generally you can and should require an employee to take a lunch break. In many states, employers are required to provide employees with rest breaks, meal breaks, or both, and are sometimes even required to provide them at specific times during an employee’s shift. An employee skipping these rest periods could result in noncompliance with those law. Additionally, an employee who works through their breaks may see negative impacts on their health and well-being, while you may see a drop in their overall productivity. It’s in everyone’s best interest that the appropriate break time is provided and taken.
Read more: Link
Read moreQuestion:
How do we know when an employee is ready for a leadership role?
Answer:
It’s good you’re thinking about this. Promotions into leadership too often come with little discussion about how the leadership role will be different from the current role or whether the employee has the interest or skill set to be an effective leader.
Fortunately, there are indicators that someone is likely ready for a leadership role. These include (among other traits) their ability to communicate effectively, inspire and motivate others, resolve conflicts while minimizing drama, adapt to change, and take accountability for the work of their team.
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This Q&A does not constitute legal advice and does not address state or local law.
Read moreLifestyle Spending Accounts
As employees demand customized benefits packages and more employers offer lifestyle spending accounts (LSAs), it’s important for employers to understand the specifics of this spending account and consider if they are a good fit for their organization and employees. This article explores LSAs, including their benefits and disadvantages
Click to access Lifestyle%20Spending%20Accounts.pdf
Read moreQuestion:
We need to terminate an employee due to poor performance. Should we give them a letter outlining why we are terminating them?
Answer:
There is no federal requirement for employers to provide written notice about why someone is being terminated, but we do recommend providing written notice as best practice. This reduces the likelihood of the terminated employee spinning up their own (possibly illegal) reason for the termination and then claiming there is no documentation to the contrary.
Read more: Link
This Q&A does not constitute legal advice and does not address state or local law.
Answer from Daniel, SHRM-CP
Read moreWhether you are part of an HR team at your organization, or one person juggling HR amongst your other responsibilities, Mineral solutions are here to help you save time and headaches tackling common HR and compliance challenges.
Join Mineral experts, Renee Farrell, HR Expert, and Aurelia Bell, Associate Product Marketing Manager, for a high-powered session on how you can leverage your Mineral tools to navigate today’s workplace challenges.
Register Now: Link
Read moreQuestion:
What is the difference between a job description and a job posting? Can I just share the job description when advertising for a role?
Answer:
While the job description and the job posting are similar, in that they both outline the duties of the role and the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) needed to perform those duties, each has a different purpose.
Read more: Link
This Q&A does not constitute legal advice and does not address state or local law.
Read moreQuestion:
What is the difference between a job description and a job posting? Can I just share the job description when advertising for a role?
Answer:
While the job description and the job posting are similar, in that they both outline the duties of the role and the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) needed to perform those duties, each has a different purpose.
Read more: Link
This Q&A does not constitute legal advice and does not address state or local law.
Answer from Brody, PHR, SHRM-CP
Read moreQuestion:
A candidate told us they have a disability. What do we need to do?
Answer:
We recommend asking if they need an accommodation during the application process, but above all, ensure that having this information doesn’t influence your hiring decision. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires employers to provide accommodations to applicants with disabilities if needed to be considered for a job unless the accommodation causes an undue hardship. If the applicant doesn’t need an accommodation, simply continue to focus on the candidate’s skills and abilities relative to the position you’re hiring for.
Read more: Link
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This Q&A does not constitute legal advice and does not address state or local law.
Answer from Rachel, SHRM-SCP |