Compliance Requirements for a Remote Workforce

According to Gallup, the number of days employees are working remotely has doubled during the pandemic. Some companies are even considering making a remote work arrangement permanent. While there are no laws that exclusively apply to remote workplaces, remote work...

Given the COVID-19 pandemic, should we cancel our annual holiday party?

Answer from Emily, PHR: We would certainly recommend not having an in-person event this year, which could put your company, employees, customers, and community at risk. If your event spreads the virus, your employees could become sick, much of your workforce may need...

Can we require that employees give notice before quitting?

Answer from Megan, SPHR, JD: Requiring departing employees to give notice could jeopardize their at-will status (if applicable). To avoid this, I recommend requesting that employees provide notice instead of requiring it. Asking for notice as a professional courtesy...

Four Steps to Take When an Employee Is Diagnosed with COVID-19

As COVID-19 infection rates continue to climb, it’s imperative that organizations respond quickly when an employee is diagnosed. Here are the steps employers should take: Notify Employees  Employees should be notified of potential exposure in the workplace, but they...

Several of our employees have talked about having Thanksgiving with large groups of extended family. What can we do to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading into our workplace?

Answer from Kara, JD, SPHR: Assuming you don’t want to make everyone quarantine or argue with employees about their Thanksgiving dinner plans, I’d follow the guidelines used for exposed healthcare workers. Everyone in the workplace should: 1. Wear a mask at all...

We’ve had a lot of turnover since the pandemic started and are thinking about doing exit interviews to see if we can find out why. Do you have any suggestions?

Answer from Sarah, PHR, SHRM-CP: Exit interviews can be a very useful tool — if you’re prepared to act on what you learn — so it’s great that you’re thinking about using them. I’ll cover some basics. Exit interviews typically use one of two formats: an in-person...