What are we required to provide for an employee who asks to pump breast milk at work?

The federal Fair Labor Standards Act, amended by the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (PUMP Act), requires all employers to provide reasonable break time and a private, non-bathroom space for nursing employees to express breast milk. It...

Are You Required to Approve an Unpaid Leave for School?

An employee requested an unpaid leave of absence to complete their last semester of college. Do we have to approve it? If we don’t but still want to, what should we consider before approving the employee’s request? A leave of absence for educational purposes isn’t...

Can we have a mandatory retirement age?

With a few exceptions, no, you can’t have a mandatory retirement age. Forcing an employee age 40 or older to retire at a certain age would likely violate the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. You could, however, offer voluntary retirement plans or various...

Do I need to do anything when employees come to me to vent?

It depends on what they’re venting about. If they’re complaining about conduct that might be illegal, such as harassment or threats of violence, you’ll need to investigate. This is true even if the employee asks you not to take action. If the situation doesn’t pertain...

Federal Law Alert: New Version of Form I-9 Released – Don’t Panic!

On April 2, 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released an updated Form I-9. However, employers can continue using the previous versions of the form. The Updates The new Form I-9 has the following changes: The term “noncitizen” was replaced...

Who should have access to employee files?

Whoever does HR in your organization will obviously need access since they’re responsible for updating employee information and making sure everything is compliant with employment laws. Many states also grant employees the right to view their own personnel files....