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Beware unintended consequences of unlimited PTO

12/15/2023
Unlimited paid time off is an increasingly popular benefit that employees value—and that employers hope will help them recruit and retain workers. Properly implemented, an unlimited-PTO program appeals to a new breed of workers who prize work/life flexibility and believe they can accomplish their work duties without micromanagement and restrictive rules dictating when they must work. But before you jump on the unlimited-PTO bandwagon, consider a few unintended consequences.

ADA: Unpaid leave can be reasonable accommodation

12/04/2023
The ADA requires employers and disabled employees to engage in an “interactive process” to explore possible accommodations that will enable the employee to perform a job’s essential functions. Then, the employer can pick the reasonable accommodation it prefers. But what if the employer chooses to place the employee on unpaid leave until a temporary flare-up of a disabling condition subsides?

Support for paid leave surges

12/01/2023
Overall, 85% of likely voters in battleground states say they generally favor granting paid leave so employees can care for their children, other family members or themselves.

Holiday scheduling: How to keep the peace

11/22/2023
Federal law says you must make a reasonable effort to accommodate employees’ “sincere” religious beliefs, including trying to give them time off for religious observances. The best way to minimize scheduling disputes, especially around religious holidays, and avoid legal trouble is through a few smart preventative measures.

Retain older workers with tailored benefits

08/23/2023
Now that the post-COVID economy has stabilized and the stock market is climbing again, some older workers who stuck with you throughout the pandemic may be considering quitting to pursue other interests. But if they do, you will be at risk of losing the benefit of their on-the-job experience, their investment in your organization’s culture and their institutional knowledge of how you get work done.

‘Back to school’ may mean employees need time off

08/07/2023
Most employers are flexible about granting school-related leave, but just how far they’ll bend depends on whether employees are nonexempt or exempt and state short-term leave laws.

Summer’s here and so are new employment laws

07/07/2023
Summertime is often when new employment laws take effect, and this summer is no exception.

Bereavement leave: How to manage time off when an employee’s loved one dies

04/26/2023
Is HR’s focus on leave related to childbirth misplaced? According to the Census Bureau, there were more deaths than births in most U.S. counties during the 12 months that ended June 30, 2022. Any employer that offers reasonable bereavement leave—especially paid leave—sets itself apart as a workplace that values work-life balance.

Feel free to contact worker who’s on sick leave

04/03/2023
Employers should make it a point not to pester employees who are out on sick leave or ask them to perform work during their time off. However, that general principle doesn’t mean employers are absolutely forbidden to seek basic information from employees who are out sick.

As calls for nationwide paid leave grow, several states already have laws on the books

03/27/2023
Momentum is growing to offer paid family and medical leave as a nationwide benefit. The White House’s fiscal year 2024 budget request called on Congress to appropriate $325 billion to fund up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave. 11 states and the District of Columbia already have laws that create a paid leave entitlement for eligible workers.