Can we still require that employees wear masks?

Answer from Emily, SPHR: You can, yes. While the CDC has announced that those who are vaccinated against COVID-19 may go without a mask in most places, private employers still have the right to enforce mask wearing policies in their own workplaces, regardless of...

Pride Month Reminds Us That There’s a Lot More Work to Do

A year ago, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that employers may not discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity in employment. The decision was a response to three separate cases, all of which were about employment discrimination based on...

Can I ask applicants if they need a reasonable accommodation to perform the job?

Answer from Margaret, PHR, SHRM-CP: No, for the most part asking an applicant whether they need an accommodation would constitute a pre-employment disability inquiry, which is prohibited under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Prior to making an offer of...

EEO-1 Reporting Open Now Through July 19, 2021

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced that the 2019 and 2020 EEO-1 Component 1 data collection is now open—the collection had been delayed because of COVID-19. Employers that are required to file have until Monday, July 19, 2021, to submit...

How Conducting Exit Interviews Can Help You Increase Retention

The exit interview is a conversation with a departing employee about their time at the company and the reason for their departure. It’s completely optional, but some employers conduct them to learn about workplace issues that may be costing them good employees. Exit...

What are the penalties and costs for misclassifying employees?

Answer from Kara, JD, SPHR: The answer will depend on a number of factors, such as how many employees are misclassified, how much extra money they would have been paid if properly classified, and whether or not lawyers or regulatory agencies get involved. Generally,...